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Important Update about Tax Bill – Grace Period extended to 8-31-23

2023 Tax Bills are Delayed – August Grace Period Extended

Sewer Tax Due Date

Sewer Tax Due Dates for 2022: September 1st & December 1st.

** There is a 10-day grace period. If the 10th day falls on a weekend or a holiday, the following business day is the last day of the grace period.**

Upon the receipt of your bill, you may choose to:

Pay the bill in full ($472.00) by September 1st of 2022 OR Pay half the bill ($236.00) by September 1st of 2022, and then pay the remaining bill ($236.00) by December 1st of 2022.

Due to the pandemic, some of these dates have been delayed in recent years, and grace periods have been extended appropriately. We encourage all our residents to note these dates and to keep an eye on their mail to make sure they are aware of any changes that are made throughout the year.

Finally, if you believe you are missing a bill or have a question about the schedule, do not hesitate to call the Tax Office at 908-725-6300 x 5145.

IRS ISSUES GUIDANCE ON PROPERTY TAX PRE-PAYMENTS

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-advisory-prepaid-real-property-taxes-may-be-deductible-in-2017-if-assessed-and-paid-in-2017

IMPORTANT PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION FOR BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS

Tax Collector

The Bridgewater Township Tax Collector is responsible for the collection of taxes, sewer utility bills, liens connections, assessments, and reconciling state reports and municipal accounts. The office prides itself on maintaining a good rapport with residents and lending institutions.

Business Hours:

Monday thru Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during 10 day property tax grace period, not the sewer utility grace period)

Property Tax Due Dates:

February 1 **
May 1 **
August 1 **
November 1 **

** There is a 10-day grace period. If the 10^th day falls on a weekend or a holiday, the following business day is the last day of the grace period.**

VIEW YOUR PROPERTY TAX/SEWER BILLS HERE

Tax Reduction Programs:

Property Tax Rebate Programs – Click Here

Electronic Tax Sale – Click Here

Senior Freeze Applications: https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr/printform.shtml

Mortgage Escrow If the money is escrowed by a lending institution for tax payment, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to have the institution send to the Tax Office the correct bank code.

If any property is refinanced or sold to another lending institution, it is the agency’s responsibility to provide to the Tax Office the new bank code.

When a mortgage is satisfied, please contact the tax office for the removal of the bank code.

To reach the Acting Tax Collector, Blanca Lyons, please call (908) 725-6300 ext. 5143, or by email at taxcollector@bridgewaternj.gov

Tax Assessor

NOTICE: Letters to residents that are up for reassessment this year have been sent. If you misplaced your letter, please click here to view.

Property/Block and Lot Information:
Property information is readily available at the Tax Assessor’s office. Due to the large amount of information, and anticipated reliance and accuracy, it is recommended that this information be obtained in person at the office.

What are the duties of the Tax Assessor?
This office is responsible to maintain all real property records within Bridgewater Township. Our Business Hours: Monday thru Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

What are the rights of a Property Tax Payer?
Tax Payers Bill of Rights

Assessment Appeal Due Date:
May 1, of tax year to appeal assessment.
Example: May 1, 2020 is the due date to appeal the assessment for the tax year 2020.

Click here for a brochure regarding Tax Appeal Hearings

Annual Reassessment Program:
As you may be aware, the Township of Bridgewater continues to conduct its annual reassessment program. As we enter our 20th year, I remind property owners that the purpose of the reassessment program is not to generate additional tax revenue. Its purpose is to annually reestablish the overall municipal assessment value based upon market analysis. This includes all class of properties; commercial, residential, industrial, vacant land, etc.

As a state requirement of the reassessment program, each property must be inspected within a four-year cycle. Each year of our annual reassessment program the Township of Bridgewater contracts with an accredited appraisal firm to conduct property inspections in order to confirm data accuracy. Having correct data is paramount to valuation accuracy. This is also vital to maintain equity and uniformity. Our goal is to have all assessments reflect as close to true market as possible. A notice will be mailed out prior to the inspection to the homes being inspected this year.

YOU MUST CALL APPRAISAL SYSTEMS INC AT (201) 493-8530 TO SCHEDULE EITHER OPTION AND WITH ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INTERIOR INSPECTION.

At any time during the year we welcome you to contact the Assessor’s office to obtain information with regard to your assessment and the reassessment function. If you have questions, please contact the office at 908-725-6300 Ext. 5121.

TAX DEDUCTION PROGRAMS:
Click here for a brochure regarding NJ Property Tax Benefits

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD FOR SENIOR/DISABLED AND VETERAN
File this claim with the municipal tax assessor from October 1 through December 31 of the pretax year, i.e., the year prior to the calendar tax year or with the municipal tax collector from January 1 through December 31 of the calendar tax year. For example, for a property tax deduction claimed for calendar tax year 2019, the pretax year filing period would be October 1 – December 31, 2018 with the assessor and the tax year filing period would be January 1 – December 31, 2019 with the collector.

$250.00 Real Property Tax Deduction Programs and respective link to applications:

.* These deductions require this supplemental to accompany the application:
<<< CLICK HERE >>>
During the tax year for which the deduction is claimed, The applicant reasonably anticipates that their annual income (and that of their spouse/civil union partner combined) will not exceed $10,000 after a permitted exclusion of Social Security Benefits, or Federal Government Retirement/Disability Pension, or State, County, Municipal Government and their political subdivisions and agencies Retirement/Disability Pension. Please see the application for more details.

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD FOR DISABLED VETERANS

File this form with the municipal tax assessor at any time during the tax year. Partial or prorated exemption is permitted for the remainder of any taxable year from the date ownership or title to the dwelling house is acquired provided all other eligibility requirements are met. For example, where application is filed on June 1st of the tax year for exemption on a dwelling house acquired on February 14th of the tax year, the assessed value is to be prorated for taxation purposes so that 44/365th’s of the total assessment would be taxable and 321/365th’s would be exempt.

Click here for Exempt Disabled Veteran Form

For a presentation on the New Criteria for Disabled Veteran Exemption, please click here

Property Tax Reimbursement Program (AKA Senior Freeze):
This application is available in the Tax Collector’s office.

Change of Address:
Changes of address must be in writing, and submitted to the Tax Assessor’s office.

Change of Address Request – CORPORATION, LLC, and EXEMPT OWNERS

Change of Address Request – RESIDENTIAL

Farmland Application Forms

Application for Farmland Assessment

Changes to Farmland Assessment for the Year 2019

Supplemental Farmland Assessment Gross Sales Form

Woodland Data Form

The Tax Assessor, Anthony R. DiRado, can be reached at (908) 725-6300 ext. 5121 or by email at taxassessor@bridgewaternj.gov.

Click here for Reassessment Frequently Asked Questions PDF

Municipal Services

The Department of Municipal Services is inclusive of several divisions, including Engineering, Public Works, Sewer Utility, Code Enforcement, Fire Safety, and Planning/Zoning.

This Department assists and protects all Bridgewater residents and the inherent appeal of the community in many ways including:

Ensuring all construction within Bridgewater, both residential and commercial, is in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code of New Jersey. Purpose: To safeguard the public’s health, welfare and life safety in buildings;
Preventing the occurrence of fires through education and compliance inspections Mission: to help prevent the occurrence of fire, protect lives and to preserve property through: Enforcement, Education, Permitting and Inspection, Plan review
Assist and protect the public, compliance with Township Codes, investigating drainage issues, keeping soil disturbances to a minimum
Preservation of trees
Serving as Professional and Administrative Staff to Bridgewater Township Planning Board
Enforcing compliance with current Zoning Ordinances
Managing Township Capital Improvement Projects
Keeping Tax Maps/Zoning Maps available for the public
Managing the use, construction, operation and maintenance of the Sewer Utility
Providing exceptional service and maintenance of Public Works structures and facilities

Contacts:

Thomas M. Genova – Director of Municipal Services

Maria Schaumberg – Project Manager

Lauren Vitti – Confidential Administrative Assistant

Engineering –

William H. Burr, IV, PE – Township Engineer

Anthony Gallo, PE, CME – Assistant Township Engineer

Kunal Dash – Project Manager

Kyle Boehme – Engineer/Project Manager

Public Works –

Richard Shimp – Superintendent of Public Works

Tyson Murdock – Supervisor/Public Works

Sewer Utility –

Thomas M. Genova – Director of Municipal Services

Richard Shimp – Superintendent Public Works/Sewer Division Maintenance

Code Enforcement –

Steve C. Rodzinak – Construction Official

Fire Safety –

Thomas E. Scalera – Fire Official/Fire Marshall

Xavier Alvarado – Fire Inspector

Planning/Zoning –

Nancy Probst – Land Use Administrator

Roger Dornbierer – Zoning Officer

Sewer Utility

The Sewer Utility Division is responsible for managing the use and construction of sanitary sewerage facilities throughout the Township. To date we have installed 350 miles of collection lines and 50 miles of trunk sewers. We also maintain 5 major pumping stations and 115 residential grinder pumps.

Sewer Utility Division operations are divided into four major functional groups, consisting of: Administration, Construction Inspection, Engineering, and Maintenance. Responsibilities are shared among three municipal departments: Engineering, Finance, and Public Works with support from the Building Code and Enforcement Division, and the Health Department.

Each year the Township Council approves a separate annual operating budget for Sewer Utility activities. The expense of these programs is recovered through a program of annual sewer use charges.

The Sewer Utility Division is constantly in the process of planning, designing, upgrading, and constructing new facilities. Newly constructed facilities consist of private sector development projects, which are required to include provisions for sanitary sewers, and public municipal projects for existing residents. Changes in development trends approved by the Planning Board are also evaluated to help ensure capacity within the existing Township infrastructure. As the Health Department identifies failing onsite treatment facilities the Sewer Utility Division is also advised so that alternative facilities can be evaluated and be added to the Six Year Capital Improvement Plan. Sewer Utility maintenance personnel also keep track of repairs and service calls to help aid in planning systems upgrades.
Sewer Utility Division operations include a variety of activities from general management to planning, design to construction, operations to preventative maintenance, collecting revenues to controlling expenditures, and interaction with the Township’s tax collector to ensure that all sewer users utilizing Bridgewater’s municipal sewage system are paying their fair share.

Sewer Utility Division is managed by Thomas M. Genova, Director of Municipal Services. He can be reached at 908-725-6300 Ext. 5515 or by email: tgenova@bridgewaternj.gov. Sewer Maintenance is managed by Richard Shimp, Superintendent of Public Works. He can be reached at 908-725-6300 Ext. 6000 or by email: publicworks@bridgewaternj.gov. For all sewer billing issues or to set up an account, please contact the Tax Collector’s office at (908) 725 6300 ext. 5145 or email: taxcollector@bridgewaternj.gov.

PRESS RELEASE: Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds

Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds

Bridgewater, NJ – The Bridgewater Township Council unanimously passed a Resolution expressing disappointment in the lack of federal stimulus funds coming to Bridgewater Township and called on the Township’s federal representatives to advocate for any future stimulus or aid for Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impacts of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers.

$82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but Bridgewater received no funding because it misses the threshold at 45,000 residents.

“In addition to the devastating loss of life in Bridgewater from the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 souls as of today, we are also taking it on the chin financially through a tax revenue reduction of as much as $1.8 million and at least $250,000 in increased expenses,” said Councilman Michael Kirsh. “Governments and agencies throughout this region are raising their hands asking for help. We don’t have a daily televised press conference to make our plea. So instead, this resolution asks our Federal representatives, Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressman Malinowski, to fight for the needs of Bridgewater and hundreds of municipalities like us that have been bypassed to date, despite allocation of a whopping $2.2 Trillion in aid.”

Mayor Matthew Moench added,”I am in lockstep with the Council on this Resolution and I thank Councilman Kirsh for his leadership on it. Bridgewater has a population of 45,000; 5,000 short of the requirement to receive funding in this tranche of money. As the largest municipality in our Congressional District, I would have expected a better result. I implore our federal representatives to fight harder for Bridgewater as additional funding becomes available.”

Please see below for the full text of the Resolution:

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LACK OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY BEING AWARDED TO BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP (TO DATE) AND REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS THAT MAY BE AWARDED IN THE FUTURE

WHEREAS, In March 2020 the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate passed S. 3548, a $2.2 Trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” also known as the “CARES

Act”; and

WHEREAS, a stated intention of the CARES Act was to provide relief to individuals, businesses, agencies, and governments to account for negative financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Bridgewater Township, with a population of 45,000, has experienced and is projecting a combination of higher expenses (at least $250,000) and reduced revenue (as much as $1.8 Million) directly attributable to the COVID-19 crisis; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned impacts will require Bridgewater Township’s Mayor and Township Council to not only reduce expenses but to considerably increase the amount raised by taxation to develop a 2020 budget; and

WHEREAS, $82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but nothing for Bridgewater Township;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses its profound disappointment that Bridgewater Township’s financial needs, and those of every other New Jersey municipality with fewer than 50,000 residents, have not been accommodated to date within the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses to its elected Federal representatives (U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Tom Malinowski) its strong desire that any future stimulus or aid accounts for the needs of Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impact of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted electronically to the offices of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Tom Malinowski, State Senator Mike Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, the Clerk of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Administrator of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

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Mayor Moench Holds First Telephone Town Hall for Residents

Mayor Matthew Moench, joined by Bridgewater’s Health and Emergency Management Officials, held a Telephone Town Hall for Bridgewater residents to discuss the municipal response the COVID-19 pandemic.

The community conversation ranged from information released on positive cases in Bridgewater to public health safety tips for families and included discussion on municipal taxes and revenues. Please click the link below to listen to the recording:

Bridgewater Telephone Town Hall 4/14/20