Property Tax & Local Budgets: A roadmap for taxpayers

Part 1: The framework and timeline for local budgets and property tax

Property Tax & Local Budgets, An Intro to the series

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. I am launching a new series on CivicParent about the local government budget process and property tax. My hope is for this ...

February 28, 2023 / Part 1 - Framework & Timelines, Property Tax: Demystified

Property tax dashboard: visualizing tax levies, tax base, & tax rates from 1998-2022

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. I am sharing in this post a tool I’ve been using (and will continue to use) as I write this series. It ...

February 28, 2023 / Part 1 - Framework & Timelines, Property Tax: Demystified

The local budget timeline

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. To follow the public money and better understand what’s driving your property tax bills, you have to know when to engage the ...

March 10, 2023 / Part 1 - Framework & Timelines, Property Tax: Demystified

NJ’s 565 Municipalities & 21 County Tax Boards, Mapped

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. New Jersey has 21 county tax boards and I’ve got links to their websites below (links are current as of the writing of ...

March 29, 2023 / Part 1 - Framework & Timelines, Property Tax: Demystified

Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to

Your property tax bill & what it’s pointing to

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. The tax bill offers a highly personalized context to connect our property (the basis of our property tax) with the larger system ...

March 23, 2023 / Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to, Property Tax: Demystified

Property Tax Appeals & “Implied” Market Value

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. In advance of my upcoming property tax appeals workshop on March 26th, I’ve been thinking about how to distill property tax appeals ...

March 24, 2023 / Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to, Property Tax: Demystified

Data Visualization of “Chapter 123” Law

This is part of a series about local budgets and property tax. View the series landing page here. In my previous post I touched upon “implied” market value. In this post I want to touch upon NJ’s “Chapter 123” law ...

March 25, 2023 / Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to, Property Tax: Demystified

Workshop #1: Property Tax Appeals (March 26th @2pm in SPU’s McIntyre Hall)

Location update for the March 26th 2pm Property Tax Appeals Workshop: I'm excited to share my first workshop which will happen tomorrow, Sunday March 26th at 2pm in SPU's McIntyre Hall located on JFK Boulevard between Montgomery and Glenwood, which I've ...

March 25, 2023 / Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to, Property Tax: Demystified

Part 3: The local levy as a connection between taxpayer and the local budget

The local levy as connection between taxpayer and the local budget

This is part of a 2023 series about property tax in NJ. View the series landing page here. An upfront caveat: the levy is a topic with vast scope beyond what I can and want to cover here. There is ...

May 11, 2023 / Jersey City Municipal Budget, Jersey City Public Schools Budget, Part 3: The local levy as a connection between taxpayer and the local budget, Property Tax: Demystified

NJ Property Tax & Local Budgets: a public data roadmap for taxpayers

Part 1: The framework and timeline for local budgets and property tax

Part 2: The tax bill and what it’s pointing to

Part 3: The local levy as a connection between taxpayer and the local budget

Part 4: The tax base: assessed vs market value

Part 5: The tax rates as a lens into tax equity

Part 6: Special topics