Dear Editor:
In the city’s attempt to address rent control one important aspect should be addressed, the passing along of taxes to tenants. I have personally witnessed owners of rent control buildings get major tax breaks in the Hudson County Tax Court because Jersey City rent control laws does not allow landlords to pass along tax increases, the landlords use the tax court to appeal these increases.
Other Hudson County towns do allow tax pass along. Any increase in rent is based on the Jersey City’s rent leveling board. As an example, when municipal taxes increased over 20 percent under the Healy administration, tenants under rent control had a 4 percent increase.
By comparison, senior citizens were not so lucky appealing their assessments in tax court, they were not given a reduction but state forms which required an upfront payment of taxes. I seriously doubt seniors have the funds to pay the increase in advance. The reason many seniors’ homes end up on the city’s tax liens.
If Jersey City is serious about finding money for the public school to close that $150 million shortfall, then rent control tenants need to start paying full taxes so their landlords do not seek relief in tax court.
Besides, the bonds that the city pays to refund the landlords are now another tax on the small homeowner, which means they are being taxed twice.
Tenants in rent control buildings have the right to vote to increase taxes such as the county and Jersey City open space taxes. Now there is another proposed tax for the arts. I am sure many will vote yes and as usual, they will be exempt from the tax increase.
Yvonne Balcer
