Dear Community Friends,
New quarterly property tax rates and bills for the third and fourth quarters of 2023, and the estimated first and second quarters of 2024 can now be viewed online through the Edmunds System. The third quarter payments can also be processed on-line through Edmunds on our website at www.mantuatownship.com. Click on the tab for “Online Tax Payments.” Enter your name, property location or block and lot number to access your property tax account.
Official tax bills will hit mailboxes during the week of Aug. 21, and the third quarter due date will be extended until Sept. 15. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our tax collector, Alice Kellmyer at akellmyer@mantuatownship.com.
The tax increases some residents are experiencing are a result of the recent reassessment here in Mantua. Our governing body had no control over this, as state law requires the reassessments to occur every 10 years (it was pushed back to about 12 years due to Covid, etc.).
My suggestion would be to call the Gloucester County Tax Assessors Office and appeal your reassessed value if you feel it’s inaccurate. We have been in contact with Robin Hague at the tax assessor’s office. She is more than willing to help our residents. Please feel free to contact her at (856) 307-6445 or rhague@co.gloucester.nj.us for guidance and assistance.
The general rule of thumb is that 1/3 of the taxpayer’s property taxes go up, 1/3 go down, and 1/3 stay about the same. This seems to be the case here in Mantua. Keep in mind that the reassessment process is not revenue driven, and we do not collect additional tax money as a result to support town-wide services. It is supposed to level the playing field and guarantees that property taxes are being distributed fairly across the community. In essence, it ensures that everyone is paying their fair share based on the most current assessed value of homes within our jurisdiction.
Again, please keep in mind that we did not have any local property tax increases in the 2021 and 2022 as we kept our budget flat (zero based budget) both years. This year there was a very minimum municipal increase of less than 1% over last year’s revenues. Our township committee controls only 20% of your property tax bill. Again, any increases some residents have seen throughout the township this year are most likely the result of the state mandated reassessments.
On July 20, I received an electronic letter from the Glassboro-Camden Line (GCL) Project Team, Sophia Fox (Public Outreach Specialist). Ms. Fox advised that the GCL Project Team will be scheduling meetings with mayors and elected officials along the alignment beginning this fall. They will reach out at a later time to schedule this meeting here in Mantua Township. Ms. Fox advises that the meeting will consist of topics such as: GCL benefits, quiet zone updates, property needs, and further coordination efforts with the communities impacted. We will also be requesting again that the GCL Team set-up another public outreach and stakeholder meeting in Mantua Township. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
On Monday, July 24 the NoToGCL group and Mantua resident Josie Ladd submitted 1429 signatures on a petition to the township administration building for review in order to have a GCL (Gloucester Camden Line) question on the ballot for this year’s general election on Nov. 7. The signatures are in the process of being verified by our township administrator. The proposed ballot question would read as follows, “Do you support the construction of the proposed Glassboro-Camden Line light rail transit system?” This would be a non-binding referendum that would ascertain the pulse of our community on this topic.
What better way to spend a summer night than an outdoor movie? On Monday, July 31st we will be showing Sing 2 at Chestnut Branch Park at 8:30 p.m. This movie is family-friendly, and it is the perfect event to bring the kids to watch, laugh, and sing along. So, make sure you pack up a blanket, lawn chair and popcorn. Let’s get watching!
The township’s Summer Newsletter is hitting mailboxes this week. You may have received it already.
We’d like to congratulate corporal Jefferey Krieger for recently completing firearms instructor school and becoming Mantua P.D.’s newest firearms instructor.
Upcoming township meetings and events:
- Thursday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. is the next historical commission meeting to be held at the Historical Museum.
- Thursday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. is the next fire district meeting to be held at the Sewell Fire Station.
- Saturday, Aug. 5 is the next Convenience Center Drop Off at our Public Works facility between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On behalf of Deputy Mayor Pete Scirrotto and myself, and the entire Township Committee – we look forward to continuing our service with honesty, integrity and trustful leadership!
Respectfully,
Mayor Robert T. Zimmerman, MAS
