Understanding Property Taxes in New Jersey

If you'd like to better understand how your property taxes are calculated and how they are used, come to Bernardsville Public Library on Monday, November 26 at 7:00 pm. Dr. Henry Coleman, faculty member in the Public Policy program at the Bloustein School at Rutgers, and an expert on state and local public finance, will explain the basics, discuss issues, the future outlook, and answer questions.  This program is a joint effort of the Borough Finance Committee and Bernardsville Public Library to help community residents understand their taxes. "We often get questions about property tax bills," said Ralph Maresca, the Borough's Administrator, "This program should help clarify the different portions of the bill and how property taxes fit into the overall picture of tax collection in the state of New Jersey." 

Dr. Coleman has been a faculty member at Tufts University, and has held adjunct faculty positions at The American University, the University of Maryland at College Park, and at George Mason University.  He was a Brookings Economic Policy Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  In New Jersey, he served as the executive director of the New Jersey State and Local Expenditure and Revenue Policy Commission, and as the assistant director for operations and research in the New Jersey Office of State Planning.  He also served as a senior policy adviser in Governor Florio’s Policy Office.  He has also served on the board of several non-profit, professional, and civic organizations, including the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute, New Jersey City University, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Future, Citizens for the Public Good, the Regional Planning Partnership, the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Gateway Institute at Kean University, and the Coalition for Affordable Housing and the Environment. 

There is no charge to attend the program, but advance sign-up is requested.  Register online at www.bernardsvillelibrary.org and follow the link from Adult Programs, or call the library at 908-766-0118 to sign up.