Work on tax reval continues
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - Progress is being made on a revaluation of all properties in Jack-son. The new figures - which will assign a present assessed value on each piece of property - will become effective on Jan. 1, 2009.

Revaluation is a state mandated program undertaken by the municipality to appraise all real estate according to its full and fair value. The process ensures that all property owners pay their fair share of taxes which is based on the value of the property they own. The last time Jackson was revalued was in 1988.

Realty Appraisal Company, of West New York, has been hired by the township to conduct the revaluation, according to tax assessor Dennis Rafferty.

"Right now they are doing a lot of the preliminary office work," he said. "We've provided them with our new tax maps. They are printing up field sheets and my introductory letter which will be mailed to all homeowners before Realty Ap-praisal actually starts inspecting properties.

"According to the project manager from Realty Appraisal, they are putting out 1,200 to 1,300 inspections a week and they're wrapping up Middletown right now," he said. "As soon as they're done with that they are coming to Jackson" to concentrate on what has to be done.

Information about the revaluation is available on the Jackson Internet Web site www.jacksontwpnj.net. Click on the link for the municipal assessor. Then click on the link to revaluation information.

In months to come representatives of the appraisal company will be inspecting commercial and residential properties and inputting all building data.

From May to June 2008 the company will be mailing certified Chapter 91 Income and Expense requests to commercial property owners. They will analyze residential and commercial property sales and review neighborhood delineations with the assessor.

In July and August 2008 all property inspections will be completed, and land values will be reviewed by the assessor and the appraisal company.

Between September and December 2008 property values and other reports will be reviewed with the township assessor.

In November 2008, value notifications will be mailed and informal taxpayer reviews will be held in December at which point modification of values may be made and change of assessment or no change letters will be mailed to property owners.

In late December 2008 all of the new data will be filed with the Ocean County Board of Taxation.