By passing of Resolution 149-13, Roselle Park’s council voted to extend the due date of property taxes for the 3rd quarter of 2013 until August 30th of this year.
Usually the 3rd quarter bill is an estimation of taxes due but this year the amount on the bill will be the actual amount due, as well as for the fourth quarter of this year and the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2014.
The reason for the change from estimated to actual is also, in part, the same reason for the delay. The process for property taxes is that, once the municipality adopts its budget, it needs to be sent to the State and County for review. The Union County Tax Administrator is the person who strikes the rate but confirmation has to be returned from the State. Property owner are supposed to get their tax bill at least 25 days which meant that bills needed to be sent out by July 15; according to Roselle Park’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ken Blum, this was not going to get done.
“This time, because we were done we said let’s go for it and we would extend the due date,” stated CFO Ken Blum, further explaining the decision to wait until actual rates were available.
Residents and property owners will be able to pay their 3rd quarter tax bills in person as early as 7:30 a.m. or until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the remainder of July and the entire month of August as part of the municipality’s ‘summer’ evening hours program.