MIDDLETOWN TO REASSESS PROPERTIES
Middletown will conduct an expedited tax reassessment to more accurately reflect home values for next tax season, says the town’s attorney. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi; click to enlarge)
By DUSTIN RACIOPPI
One of Middletown’s biggest budget hurdles this year was dealing with an increase in tax appeals. The town is on the hook for more than $1 million and counting in judgments, as appeals continue to be filed.
In an attempt to avert fiscal disaster next year, the township committee has authorized an expedited tax reassessment in order to reflect true market value for the approximately 23,000 homes and other properties in town. The move will, for the most part, slow the trend of surging appeals in 2011, said Brian Nelson, the township’s attorney.
“The most important thing to me is to mitigate the potential losses next year,” Nelson said. “There will still be tax appeals, but the amount and judgments will be far less.”