Houghtaling and Downey Call for Suspension of Tax Administrator

For Immediate Release:
11/24/15

Asks on Current Monmouth Legislators and County Officials to do the same

Assemblymembers Elect Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey are calling on Monmouth County officials to move toward the suspension of Monmouth County Tax Administrator Matthew S. Clark.

“Matthew Clark has cast an even larger shadow over Monmouth County’s controversial tax program and we do not believe taxpayers can trust its implementation with an administrator who is part of an ongoing investigation. We are asking all twelve state legislators and five county freeholders representing Monmouth County to join us in calling for Clark’s suspension. There is too much at risk for taxpayers.”

Clark is part of an ongoing investigation into the controversial tax program implemented by Monmouth County, the Assessment Demonstration Program. The investigation gained momentum when emails released showed Clark shared sensitive information about Ocean Township’s reassessment project with a private contractor, Realty Appraisal Co. Realty Appraisal went on to win a contract worth more than $500,000 with Ocean Township just months later. Several Monmouth County mayors have already expressed frustration with the program and some municipalities have moved to file suit with the county in response. The ADP Program was enacted by legislation sponsored by several current members of the Monmouth County Legislative Delegation.

Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey were elected in early November 2015 to the New Jersey General Assembly to represent the 11th Legislative District. The district encompasses 18 municipalities stretching from Freehold to Monmouth County’s eastern shore. Houghtaling and Downey begin their first terms in the State Legislature on January 12th.

Middletown Committeeman Byrnes Questions Mayor's Demand for Revaluaton Relief

Countering the position taken by Mayor Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Middletown Township Committeeman Sean F. Brynes, today called upon Township Tax Assessor Charles Heck to refrain from taking any action outside the normal process envisioned for implementation of Middletown's Revaluation.

“Middletown has delayed implementation of the revaluation for three years, has had its tax assessor suspended, and has had to budget an additional $150,000 for failing to complete the revaluation in 2008," said Committeeman Byrnes. "In so doing we have forced a majority of our residents to endure higher than justified taxes while the owners of a small percentage of the most valuable real estate in the Township have paid taxes based on extremely low assessments.” Byrnes continued, “We don't need to spend any more taxpayer dollars delaying or interfering with this process. Further delays will only force a majority of our residents to carry the tax burden for a small minority who own valuable real estate. Current assessment figures suggest that two-thirds of Middletown's residents will experience a decrease in taxes based on 2008 budget figures.”

“I strongly disagree with the Mayor's assessment that 'adjustments need to be made to many of the assessments arrived at by the Realty Appraisal Company'. “I suspect that the bulk of the complaints referenced by the Mayor come from owners of properties with high values that have not been reassessed for decades", continued Byrnes. “While these residents, like every Middletown resident, have the right to challenge the fairness of an assessment, there is no need at this point, absent compelling evidence to the contrary, for the Township Committee to take action and incur additional unnecessary expense engaging in reassessments."