Strathmere wants different revaluation

Strathmere group wants Upper to scrap reval
By MICHAEL MILLERStaff Writer, (609) 463-6712
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Updated: Tuesday, February 7, 2006

The newly formed Strathmere Taxpayers Association wants the Township Committee to throw out the latest property revaluation and start over.

This group of property owners is convinced the latest property assessments have no basis in reality.

“We're convinced and our professionals are convinced,” group spokesman Randy Roash said. “It's going to cost homeowners to file an appeal. So we're asking (the township) to throw it out and redo it.”

The association has 163 members.

Mayor Richard Palombo said any revaluation was bound to draw criticism — and has. He has gotten complaints about inflated home values from homeowners in the development-restricted Pinelands and mainland homeowners whose property consists primarily of wetlands.

He conceded a majority of complaints have come from Strathmere, a small barrier island north of Sea Isle City.

“The problem is it's not up to us to make a determination to throw it out,” Palombo said.

Palombo noted the township's tax office has worked closely with property owners and the revaluation company, CLT, to resolve differences. Homeowners who dispute their property value can appeal to the Cape May County Board of Taxation, he said.

“We want a fair assessment across the board,” Palombo said.

In a letter dated Feb. 2, township Tax Assessor Kristen Errickson told the tax group she was not aware of any state law that would allow the township to set aside the results of the revaluation.

“April 3 is the deadline for people to individually appeal their tax assessments,” Roash said. “That's for me to go in with my lawyer paid at my expense and fix the mess they made.”

The tax group plans to meet again 2 p.m. Saturday at the Strathmere fire house to offer residents help in filing tax appeals, Roash said.