Manasquan, Belmar Tax Growth Compared to State Average

The average Manasquan and Belmar taxpayer pays less in property taxes than the statewide average, but Belmar's average tax bill percentage increase was well below the state's average in 2012.

In contrast, the average Manasquan taxpayer's bill increase was more than the statewide average.

The data is contained within a Star Ledger analysis that looked at the average bills in all 566 municipalities in the state in 2012, two years after the Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie enacted a hard 2 percent cap on local budget growth.

Manasquan had an average $8,017.70 tax bill in 2012, as compared to the $7,870.28 state average. However, the analysis found that the statewide average growth over 2011 was 1.7, with Manasquan's average bill increasing more than that: 2.1 percent.

Breaking taxes into municipal and school rates, Manasquan taxpayers paid on average $4,282 to schools, $1,844 to the borough and $1,890 to Monmouth County. The average school tax statewide was $4,120.16.

Belmar's taxes are less. Belmar had an average $6,460.96 tax bill in 2012, as compared to the $7,870.28 state average. However, the analysis found that the statewide average growth over 2011 was 1.7, with Belmar's average bill increasing much less than that: 0.4 percent.

The average tax for Belmar is $1,530 to Monmouth County, $2,379 to the borough, and $2,551 for school taxes.

The Star-Ledger noted that property taxes statewide rose 2.4 percent in 2011, the first year Christie’s 2 percent cap was in effect. But the trend of lower increases could be reversed because of Hurricane Sandy costs, according to the report.