Mayor Jerry Fried and the Township Council are pleased to announce that Montclair received a $4,787,000 award of stimulus funds through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT). The award, which comprises a $2,300,000 grant and the remainder a low-interest loan, will be used for upgrades to the Township’s sanitary sewer system.

Upgrades include cleaning and repair of 12,500 linear feet of pipes using Cure In Place technology – a process to reline old pipes with fiberglass to prevent leaks. In addition 50 manholes will be relined and 2,500 linear feet of sanitary sewer will be replaced or added.

Township Director of Utilities Gary Obszarny Is in charge of the sanitary sewer upgrade project and played a key role in securing the NJEIT funding.

“The Council and I commend Gary not only for aggressively pursuing these funds but also for doing his job with such passion and proactive vision,“ said Mayor Fried.

Q: When are my taxes due?

A: Municipal tax payments are due February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1 each year. There is a 10-day grace period for receiving payments.

Q: Will I have to pay interest if my tax payment is late?

A: Yes. The late payment the interest rate is 8% on the first $1500 and 18% for any amount over $1500, retroactive to the first of the month.

Q: How do I appeal my taxes?

A. To appeal your taxes, you need to fill out a form from the Essex County Board of Taxation. Petitioners may pick up a form or send a self addressed stamped envelope to the Tax Board at the following address:

Essex County Board of Taxation
50 South Clinton Street, Suite 5200
East Orange, N.J. 07018
Hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Tax Board will fax a petition of appeal to Petitioner by calling 973-395-8525. You may also download a Petition of Appeal (Form A-1) from the New Jersey Division of Taxation:

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/lpt/petappl.pdf

PLEASE NOTE: This form must be printed on legal sized paper.

Petitions are also available for pick-up at the Essex County Satellite Office Garage located at the following address.

South Mountain Park-N-Ride Facility Garage
560 Northfield Ave.
West Orange, New Jersey
Hours are 6:00 a.m. to10:00 p.m.
973-325-1037

Q: What is a tax lien sale?

A. A Tax Lien Sale, or Tax Certificate Sale is a public sale, usually at auction, of the right to collect on a delinquent taxpayer's debt. At the tax sale - held by the County, generally once each year - title to the delinquent property itself is not sold.  What is sold is a tax sale certificate, a lien on the property. What is purchased by the winning bidder is not the deed to a property. The purchaser's money pays the delinquent taxes to the County on behalf of the delinquent property owner. In exchange, the purchaser is given first lien position on title, ahead of mortgages, deeds of trust, and judgments, subordinate only to State tax liens.

For more information, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/taxes/collection/elements_of_tax_sales_nj.shtml

Residents are asked to make every effort to pay outstanding 2009 property taxes, water and sewer charges before September 10, 2010, to avoid being placed on the tax sale list. The sale will be October 19, 2010.

- To make water payment arrangements, call (973) 509-4925, 4924.

- To make tax payment arrangements, call (973) 509-4923, 4922, 4921.

- To make sewer payment arrangements call (973) 509-4977. 

No personal checks will be accepted. Certified check, bank check, cash are the only forms of payment that will be accepted.