Nutley Begins Tax Revaluation Inspections For Local Homeowners

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley’s latest tax revaluation has officially begun.

Earlier this week, Appraisal Systems Inc. began inspecting local homes as part of the process, which was ordered by the Essex County Board of Taxation. Inspectors have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a municipal advisory.

Over the coming months, the Township of Nutley will revalue all real estate for the 2022 tax year.

According to the New Jersey Treasury Department, a property revaluation is a program undertaken by a municipality to appraise all real property within the taxing district according to its "full and fair value."

"A revaluation program seeks to spread the tax burden equitably within a municipality," the NJ Treasury Department states. "Real property must be assessed at the same standard of value to ensure that every property owner is paying his or her fair share of the property tax. For example, two properties having essentially the same market value should be paying essentially the same amount in property taxes."

Although almost all properties' values rise during a revaluation, it doesn't necessarily mean that all property taxes will increase, state officials say.

"You might now be thinking, 'How can my assessment increase and my taxes not go up?'" state officials explain. "Remember, assessments are merely a base used to apportion the tax burden. The tax burden is the amount that your municipality must raise for the operation of county and local government and support of the school system."

During a revaluation, assessors visit individual homes and conduct both inside and outside inspections. Property owners who disagree with the eventual assessed value of their homes can arrange an informal hearing or file an appeal with the County Board of Taxation.

REVAL IN NUTLEY

Here’s the township’s full notice about the revaluation that began on June 7, 2021:

“The Essex County Board of Taxation has ordered the Township of Nutley to revalue all real estate for the 2022 tax year to ensure uniform and equitable assessments.The Township has contracted Appraisal Systems, Inc. to conduct the revaluation program. You will be notified by postcard when an Appraisal Systems inspector will be in your specific area of the Township. All Appraisal Systems inspectors have been issued Nutley Police Department IDs, which will be visible at all times. Please do not allow anyone to enter your home without proper identification.

“The inspector will measure the exterior of any building, take several exterior pictures of the property, and conduct an interior inspection of your home. If no one is home at the time of the representative’s first visit he/she will measure the exterior of the buildings and take exterior photographs but leave a card specifying when he/she will return to do an interior inspection. You will be requested to provide an electronic signature acknowledging that an interior inspection was made. Please inform the occupants of any rental units you may own concerning the inspection to be made.

“The inspector who will be visiting your property has been COVID vaccinated. If health concerns preclude you from allowing an inspector inside of your residence, you will have the opportunity to conduct a ‘virtual inspection’ whereas you would be able to show the inspector the home’s interior via Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, etc. without physical entry.

“You can find additional information regarding the inspectors on both Township (www.nutleynj.org) and Appraisal Systems, Inc. (www.asinj.com) websites. The Tax Assessor can be reached at ebrown@nutleynj.org or (973) 284-4956. Appraisal Systems can be reached at nutley@asinj.com or (201) 493-8530.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page.