Six Flags will be reassessed

JACKSON - Two companies have submitted bids for the job of assessing the value of all property owned by Six Flags in the municipality.

The appraised value of the land determines the amount of taxes that are paid by the owner of the popular theme park on Route 537 near Interstate 195.

Six Flags is the largest taxpayer in Jackson. According to tax collector Mike Campbell, Six Flags paid more than $3.7 million in taxes to Jackson in 2006.

Sealed bids for the revaluation job were opened and read on Feb. 1 by Municipal Clerk Ann Marie Eden. Value Research Group, Livingston, bid $156,400 for the job, and Realty Appraisal Company, West New York, bid $150,000, for the job.

Eden said the mayor, business administrator and tax assessor will review the bids and make a recommendation to award a contract to one of the firms or to reject the offers from both companies.

A decision by the Township Council may be made at the Feb. 13 meeting of the governing body.

The Six Flags properties include the Great Adventure amusement park, a safari park and the Hurricane Harbor water park.

"The 2006 assessed value for Great Adventure properties totaled $94,520,000, which included $3,995,000 for land and $90,525,000 for improvements," said Nicole Najarian, the assessment office clerk. "In 2007 the assessed value of Great Adventure properties totaled $96,697,900, which included $3,995,000 for land and $92,702,900 for improvements.

According to the tax assessor's office, Great Adventure is on 1,247 acres.

No representatives of Six Flags were present at the Feb. 1 meeting when the bids were read. Representatives from the two appraisal firms did attend the meeting, but made no comment.