Manasquan To Give Damaged Properties a Temporary Tax Assessment Reduction

As homeowners' and property owners' repairs to Hurricane Sandy damaged areas drag on, affected Manasquan taxpayers may receive a temporary assessment reduction from the borough tax assessor.

In Manasquan, approximately 1,700 commercial and residential properties were damaged in Hurricane Sandy. Homeowners who sustained damage and whose repairs will not be completed before January 31 will receive a temporary assessment reduction, the borough announced.

However, Jan. 10 is a deadline to have contacted the county tax assessor for a tax assessment adjustment, which county residents can do online here. The county also pledged in December to use its and local towns' staff to seek out affected residents directly since the storm to help process the tax assessment adjustment.

“Unfortunately, many residents have been severely impacted by this storm and have suffered great damage to their homes and properties,” said Freeholder Gary J. Rich, Sr., liaison to the Monmouth County Tax Board, in a prepared statement. “I encourage property owners who have suffered damages to take advantage of this opportunity for a tax assessment adjustment and contact their assessor or submit an inspection request on the County website’s Disaster Recovery Portal.”

Outside of the county push to process the adjustments on its website, Manasquan will be mailing postcards to residents in February reminding them how to proceed once their repairs are completed.

However long it takes to repair the hurricane-damaged property, the tax assessment would change again in October. That's when the borough will calculate a prorated assessment for the repaired property, Manasquan officials said.

"Once the repairs are completed, the adjustment will be removed and prorated through an added assessment in October. This adjustment is for material depreciation only and is consistent throughout the State of New Jersey. Be aware property taxes will be adjusted on the Municipal portion only and will not affect the County, School District or Fire District portion on tax bills," said Councilwoman Patricia Connolly in her outgoing report at the December council meeting.

By mid-December, the county had already received 300 notifications for tax assessment adjustments from Manasquan homeowners, Connolly said.