Democrat brick mayor wants to give property tax amnesty; murphy said no
Brick Mayor John Ducey swearing his oath of allegiance before Governor Phil Murphy. Photo by Brick Township.

Democrat Brick Mayor Wants to Give Property Tax Amnesty; Murphy Said No

Posted by
1 min read
April 28, 2020

by John Ducey,
Mayor, Brick Township

 

BRICK, NJ – Earlier this month, the Township Council unanimously passed a resolution that would have extended the grace period for quarterly property taxes to May 31. This was done in an effort to provide some assistance to families impacted by the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The township has been informed by the state that this grace period extension is not permissible and Mayor John G. Ducey is voicing his frustration.

“I cannot overstate how disappointed and frustrated I am with the state’s decision. Extending the grace period has been done in the past by the state in the wake of Sandy and even for Federal employees during the recent furlough” said Mayor Ducey. “All we were doing was giving people – many of whom are not earning a paycheck right now – more time to pay their quarterly taxes without worrying about penalties. I cannot understand why the state won’t approve this small gesture during this unprecedented time.”

At their April 16, 2020 meeting, the Township Council unanimously passed a resolution that decreased the interest on late payments to 0% until May 31.
As per the state’s guidelines, penalties and interest rates will take effect at the statutory levels after the 10 day grace period. The Township will proceed with the quarterly payments due May 1 and a maximum grace period of 10 days as required by law.

Mayor Ducey urges the state to reconsider and approve the grace period extension. “We are going through a national emergency and no one knows when it will end. Providing some relief to people struggling in the way of a few more weeks to save for property tax payments is just plain common sense. I urge Governor Murphy and the State Legislature to address this issue and give towns the ability to help their taxpayers. They should be following past practices. Now is not the time to change course from what was previously allowed.”

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version