Ocean County Taxes Poised to Decrease

Ocean County residents can expect to see a slightly lower tax bill this year, thanks to a nearly $7.3 million grant from the federal government.

The $7,288,000 Community Development Block Grant will enable the county government to lower its amount to be raised by taxation by $4.3 million, said Freeholder John C. Bartlett.

The influx of cash will simultaneously lower residents' tax bills while helping the county avoid a cut to its open space fund. Previously, the freeholder board had cut its open space tax in order to be able to retain the 2012 tax rate in 2013. The grant requires that the county maintain the previous open space tax rate.

Bartlett said the overall county budget will likely be adopted next week following a public hearing – far later in the year than the annual spending plan is normally finalized.

"The freeholders said, 'let's delay things until we learn how much, and if, we can access money through this program," said Bartlett.

The decision paid off, he said.

The budget will remain at $386,188,713 as proposed, however the amount to be raised by taxation will be reduced by $4.3 million.

For the average homeowner, the reduction will represent a "slight" savings, Bartlett said, but it could be more pronounced for some residents since the tax burden has shifted from the waterfront to inland areas after the county lost between $9 billion to $10 billion of its tax base due to Superstorm Sandy.

The county government is also continuing its efforts to be reimbursed for overtime put in by county employees – most prominently, sheriff's officers, road department employees and prosecutor's office detectives – who worked in the direct aftermath of the storm, said County Administrator Carl Block.

Ocean County has already received $32 million in reimbursements from the federal government for its Sandy response.