Letter: Save Yourself Money and Grief in 2012

There are two things Lacey taxpayers should do to save themselves money and grief in 2012. The property tax assessment cards are now arriving in your mail!

The first is easy. File a tax appeal. Almost everyone is over assessed since the real estate market continued to tank after Lacey finished its revaluations a few years ago. Can you sell your house today for its assessed value? If not, you need to file an appeal. Assessed value should not exceed actual market value. If it does, then you are paying too much property tax. When your assessment card arrives, call for the appeal form. If you need help, visit the website of the Ocean County Board of Taxation. If you really need to, seek professional help from an attorney.

This is the only way to punish the run amok powers that be. If you want to make an omlette, you gotta break some eggs!

The second thing people can do comes in November. Stop handing the incumbents a shovel to dig the town’s black hole deeper into debt! Use your finger in the voting booth and drift away from the same old party line. If you can’t vote for the other people on the ticket, then cast a vote for yourself. Use the write in keyboard-that’s what it’s for. Get a GRIP and just do it…get rid of incumbent politicians now! Each and every person can make a difference.

Make sure you are registered to vote at your current address now so there are no surprises when you try to vote in November. You must be an active voter to keep your name registered at the polls. If you have not voted in more than four years, your name can be dropped. If your registration has gone dormant, you need to reactivate it. Don’t wait until Election Day. Make sure you are qualified to vote now.

If you have questions, call the Ocean County Board of Elections 732-929-2167.

Respectfully submitted,

Regina Discenza