Resident protests steep-sounding tax increases; city attorney corrects budget figure
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Summary
A resident said he faced a 21% tax increase and expected an additional 10%; the city attorney said the municipal budget is $75 million, not the $9 billion figure the resident cited, and explained that rising property values do not automatically raise taxes without a struck budget.
At the Dec. 23 Long Branch City Council meeting, resident Nick Deagle Yalmo raised concerns about property tax increases he experienced and described a possible additional 10% increase for the coming year.
Deagle Yalmo said he experienced a 21% increase and feared an added 10% hike. He told the council he had been quoted a city budget of $9,000,000,000, and asked the chief financial officer to clarify. City Attorney Lou Raynon responded that the city's budget is $75,000,000 and that the city has not yet adopted the budget for the next year. Raynon explained that increased property valuations alone do not automatically raise individual taxes because the budget (the other component of the tax rate calculation) must be set first.
Raynon said, "The budget for the city is $75,000,000, and we haven't struck a budget for next year," and noted the resident's $9 billion figure appeared incorrect. The transcript records the attorney's explanation that valuation increases and tax-rate calculation are distinct steps and that more information would be needed to determine any actual tax change for the resident.
The council did not take action at the Dec. 23 meeting to change tax policy; the exchange was limited to a public clarification by the city attorney. Residents who want precise rates for their properties were advised to consult the municipal tax assessor and await formal budget hearings.