Tale of 2 Tax Bills: Red Bank, Shrewsbury Growth Compared to State Average

The average Red Bank taxpayer paid less in property taxes in 2012 as compared to the statewide average, although the average total bill increased a bit more than the average bill statewide as compared to 2011. 

In contrast, Shrewsbury Borough taxpayers spent more on average than New Jersey taxpayers elsewhere but actually experienced a decline in their bills from 2011.

The data is contained within a Star Ledger analysis that looked at the average bills in all 566 municipalities in the state in 2012, two years after the Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie enacted a hard 2 percent cap on local budget growth.

Red Bank had an average $7,050.74 tax bill in 2012, as compared to the $7,870.28 state average. However, the analysis found that the statewide average growth over 2011 was 1.7, with Red Bank's average bill increasing 2 percent.

Shrewsbury far outstripped the average tax bill statewide, with residents paying $10,718.68 for local services. However, that 2012 bill declined by 0.7 percent from 2011, leaving the borough among only 119 municipalities statewide to see a decline in the total average bill.

The analysis shows only 92 municipalities had a higher total bill than Shrewsbury did in 2012. Red Bank was decidedly middle of the pack, with 298 municipalities paying more on average in 2012.

The Star-Ledger noted that property taxes statewide rose 2.4 percent in 2011, the first year Christie’s 2 percent cap was in effect. But the trend of lower increases could be reversed because of Hurricane Sandy costs, according to the report.

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