Councilman: Township Plans Electronic Tax Sale Program Participation

The following Council Corner article was submitted by Ward 4 Councilman Alffonso Manforti:

While some say the only certainties in life are death and taxes, what happens after death is a matter of intense debate. What happens after you don't pay your property taxes — that’s something else — a lien is sold at a municipal tax sale.    

Historically the traditional tax sale process in New Jersey was slow and antiquated with very limited participation from the public while at the same time tying up township resources before and during the sale. That was until recent changes to the tax sale law. In yet another effort to move the township forward the governing body at the April 23 Township Council meeting unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the township tax collector to complete an application to participate in the electronic tax sale program.   

In 2012 the Division of Local Government Services under N.J.S.A. 54:5-519.1, authorized electronic tax sales for the first time. The internet has helped increase sales of everything from automobiles to homes and anything in between. With the passage of this timely and innovative resolution the township takes another positive step in the right  direction for Toms River.

By conducting the sale online we will reduce administrative costs and increase the efficiency of the tax sale. At the same time we will be increasing the bidding pool to include potential buyers from all over the country. The sales are conducted by realauction.com which answers all questions concerning the online procedures and even provides online webinars to learn how to participate in the auction. The entire process from registration to bidding is done online in your favorite chair from the comfort of your home or office.

The first electronic tax sale in New Jersey was held in Red Bank on Oct. 29, 2012. If that date sounds familiar it should. That was the morning Hurricane Sandy made landfall. The town had no power, no employees, and no computers yet the sale went off without problem and every lien sold, many at a premium, netting the town $600,000.