As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks financial havoc across the globe, Hudson County legislators have taken actions to help residents cope with financial hardship caused by the virus.
The Bayonne City Council met for a caucus meeting on May 6, immediately followed by a special public meeting. The purpose of the special public meeting was to extend the grace period for the payment of second-quarter property taxes for 2020.
The new deadline is June 1.
Previously, second-quarter property taxes were due May 1, before Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order allowing municipalities to extend the deadline.
Murphy’s executive order cited the fact that property taxpayers throughout New Jersey may be suffering from one or more financial hardships caused by or related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to a substantial loss of or drop in income and additional expenses such as those relating to necessary healthcare.
“The COVID-19 outbreak has caused substantial economic disruption for many property taxpayers throughout the State, making it difficult for many residents to meet the May 1, 2020 due date for timely payment of real property taxes,” Gov. Murphy said.
Revaluation hardships
Mayor James Davis called the special meeting as a result of Murphy’s executive order. Bayonne residents may have trouble paying their property taxes this year as a result of the city’s recent property tax revaluation.
In 2018, the City of Bayonne was ordered to conduct a revaluation by the Hudson County Board of Taxation. According to Davis, Bayonne has not undergone a property tax reval since 1991.
Law Director Jay Coffey confirmed that approximately 60 percent of residents would see their property taxes decrease or stay the same while approximately 40 percent would see their property taxes increase.
Bayonne residents may be struggling to pay their new property taxes because many are unemployed or financially unstable. Businesses have been closing and issuing layoffs and furloughs due to the financial stress of the stay-at-home order and social distancing measures.
Now, the City of Bayonne will give residents some extra time to pay their property taxes.
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