PROPERTY TAX REVALUATION TO COST MORE THAN $300,000; RELATED MEETING TONIGHT

The upcoming property tax revaluation is expected to cost the Township at least $334,000, according to Township Attorney Roger Desiderio, who said four firms had submitted bids for the contract.

The lowest bid, $54.95 per line item, would come to $395,000 if the estimated 7,200 line items are involved. But Desiderio said that would likely run lower, between $334,000 and $350,000, as the Township plans to do a joint contract with South Orange.  

The county ordered the Township to conduct the revaluation last year.

The low bid is from Appraisal Systems Inc. of Whippany, which previously conducted a revaluation in 2011 for the Township and a reassessment in 2013.

“They’re effectively doing the same job," Desiderio said this week. "Visit each home to verify the measurements, verify the quality of improvements in the home. I don’t think there will be a lot of difference between them.” 

Hilton Neighborhood Association, meanwhile, will hold a meeting at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the De Hart Center on the tax reassessment with Township Tax Assessor Edward Galante and a representative from the Essex County Tax Board. 

“It should be a riveting night,” Mayor Vic Deluca said.