Learn more about tax appeals

KEARNY – 

With the April 1 deadline looming for filing municipal tax appeals, the Town of Kearny is offering local homeowners a chance to learn more about the process with a free Tax Appeal Seminar.

The event will be held Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the top-floor council chambers at Town Hall, 402 Kearny Ave.

John Peneda, the town tax assessor, and Salvatore Roccaro of Castano Quigley LLC, the town’s legal representatives, will talk about property tax assessments and appeals. They’ll also explain how to file an appeal and what is needed to do so.

Any appeals that are filed this year will cover property assessments recorded as of Oct. 1, 2014, according to Peneda.

For 2014, Peneda said the town received appeals on 66 residential properties – only a small percentage of the more than 7,000 homes and apartments town-wide – and down by half from the 132 appeals logged the year before. Peneda attributed the higher number in 2013 to the impact of Superstorm Sandy and the recession.

Of the 25 appeals filed for 2014 resulting in lowered values, Peneda said the overall impact was a $287,200 drop in total residential value which, he said, translated to about $28,000 less taxes paid.

– Ron Leir 

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