Rising Property Tax Concerns Raised By Hillsborough Residents

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough residents pressed local officials on rising property tax bills, the annual assessment process and ways to limit future increases at the July 28 Township Committee meeting.

Aleicia Uccardi said she has lived in town for nearly 19 years and has three children in the school district.

"Like many residents, I was shocked when I received my third quarter property tax bill," Uccardi said.

She said a group of concerned residents formed over the past week and "has now grown to over 500 residents."

Uccardi told the committee, "We are not here to complain. We are here because we want to work with you on finding solutions."

Uccardi asked the township to focus on three areas as planning begins for next year’s budget.

She called for "greater transparency regarding property assessments," stronger efforts to reduce costs and employee-related expenses, and work to "broaden the tax base and pursue every available source of outside funding."

She also said, "We ask you make tax relief and long-term fiscal sustainability central priorities as you prepare future budgets."

Kumarabel Nagarajan also questioned the annual reassessment model.

Nagarajan said residents want to understand the process better and asked, "Can the township committee and the tax assessor disclose the exact legal authorization or county approval that establishes this annual reassessment program?"

During the exchange, Chief Financial Officer Christiaan Bushell responded that "the annual reassessment program-it's done throughout Somerset County."

Bushell said the purpose is uniformity and fairness, adding, "The assessment process is just how it's allocated, and the reason that they try to do it, and they're moving more in the state of New Jersey, trying to do it annually is that they want it to be uniform and they want it to be fair."

Bushell also said, "What causes the increase in your taxes is the school budget, the township budget, the county budget, all those."

Other residents echoed calls for restraint and diversification of revenue.

A Lucas Drive resident said, "These continuous annual increases are simply not sustainable for our middle-class families or seniors living on fixed incomes."

He urged the township to pursue commercial development, grants and alternative revenue sources.

The Township Committee did not respond to the public's comments.

Several speakers asked the committee to respond at a future meeting.

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