Some N.J. tax facts

Some N.J. tax facts that includes other states as well but I figure some of you will either know the people or places, who knows maybe it's some of you.
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/04/17/we ... roperties/

Sam I don't know how it works in NJ but they have similar program here in PA called "Clean and Green" and it is intended to keep agricultural and natural areas in that state. If you have a nicely wooded property next to a development you could imagine what the taxes would be, you can also imagine the enticement to sell to a developer who's dangling bags of cash in front of you. For example you have the Poconos with these people living on the same lots for generations. The taxes were always cheap but now you have development. Do they deserve their taxes going through the roof because the neighbors sold off their property and it was developed? There is some strict guidelines.

In order for your land to be eligible for Clean and Green
assessment, the Act requires your land to meet the requirements
of one of the following three (3) types of uses that the Act identifies
as eligible for Clean and Green assessment:

Agricultural Use – lands must have been devoted to agriculture
during the previous three (3) years, and must either be a minimum
of 10 contiguous acres in area or, if less than 10 acres, must have
an anticipated annual gross income from agricultural production of
at least $2,000. You may still qualify for Clean and Green under
this category even if you do not personally farm the land, as long
as you are renting the land to another for use in agricultural
production.

Agricultural Reserve – lands are open space lands. In order to
qualify, the land must be at least 10 contiguous acres in area, no
commercial, and must be open to the public for outdoor recreation
or enjoyment of the land’s scenic or natural beauty. The owner
may not charge for public access to the property.

Forest Reserve – lands are capable of producing timber. In order
to qualify, the land must be at least 10 contiguous acres in area
and must be capable of producing at least 25 cubic feet per acre of
timber per year.

Any houses on the property or other building are taxed at the normal rate. If you decide to develop the property you're liable for the back taxes and that carries over to anyone you sell it to.

A rollback tax is imposed for changes in use of Clean and Green
property other than the uses normally authorized under the Act.
The rollback tax is the difference between the real estate taxes the
owner would have paid if the property were assessed under Fair
Market Value and the reduced taxes the owner paid under Clean
and Green assessment. The rollback tax is imposed on the entire
portion of land enrolled under the application.

Interest, at a rate of 6% compounded annually, will also be
imposed on the rollback taxes due. If the property has been
enrolled in Clean and Green for more than seven (7) years, the
rollback taxes are limited to the current year and the six (6)
previous years in which the land was enrolled.

I think it's great program personally.

That's good for the average land owner but the people that were mentioned are far from average & aren't likely to sell what they use to isolate themselves from the minions. There are watershed & like programs out this way as well for the state park area that help many small farmers that don't get any help because they are just that "small". Many of these programs of all kinds start off with good intent & then get modified totally away from the original meaning. Just pointing out how some can use these programs while others are stuck.

samhill wrote:That's good for the average land owner but the people that were mentioned are far from average & aren't likely to sell what they use to isolate themselves from the minions.

What's your suggestion? Discriminate against them because they are rich? Beyond that they may just go ahead and develop it, I know a common complaint from the left is development of farms and other natural areas. You can't have your cake and eat it too. It wouldn't surprise me at all if you were to find out this type of legislation was driven by the Democrats wherever it exists.

I can see where this is heading so I'm done with it, I made no mention of party but I'm sure it's all the Democrats fault no matter what us Dems. have done all the evils of the world & the Rep.s have been the only redemption. So it has been said, sorry that I hit a nerve, my mistake.

Sam, don;t care who originally supported it. I think it's great legislation but you seem to want to pick and choose who the winners are.

Like I said Richard all I did was post a link anyone is free to read into it whatever they want, I mentioned no right or left & frankly don't know who most of those mentioned are or really care, just thought that some from N.J. might like to know. Again I apologize if I offended anyone with public information & will try my best to refrain from any future what I mistakenly thought to be an informative post. Thank you for your input on the matter & I would be more than happy to have the whole thing deleted.

There is no limit on all the neat things government can do for you.

I don't think it's a good program, it encourages sprawl.

Berlin wrote:I don't think it's a good program, it encourages sprawl.

You're being serious? How would it encourage sprawl, it's going to do the exact opposite. I can cite a few example locally of two farms that used this program and probably would have been sold off to developers without it. Both are hundreds of years old on prime ground for developement.

Zoom out on this map, it's prime development area right next to the interstate. It's actually pretty weird for the area having a farm in the middle of all that residential area.


http://maps.google.com/maps?q=wilkes+ba ... vania&z=19

I've got to agree w/ BERLIN,probably for different reasons--what's sprawl??? damn I'm gettin old. We have something similar in NYS. The bottom line is that with those low tax rates, etc,etc there is one stipulation, the state has access to whatever/whenever. Who knows, if it works for some people it's a good thing--I personally didn't pursue it any farther-- I like making my own choices to much, sink or swim

See below double post sorry I'm using Vista

Maryland and my county (Carroll) in particular has some interesting programs to preserve farm land and open space. There are several different programs and funding sources but the idea is to restrict use to only agricultural uses for ever. It's done by using taxpayer money to buy the land owners development rights for using the land for other than farming use. The program is voluntary and there are strict guide lines for eligibility, acreage, quality of land, contiguous to other farms, etc. Compliance is assured by deed restrictions. It's a popular program with farmers and usually with the taxpayer, at least those that understand the future costs of not doing something now. It turns out it's fairly easy to show that should the farmland be developed into homes, the cost of schools and other public services exceeds the cost of just buying an agricultural easement now.

More info on the program is here:

http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/agpres/programs.asp

[quote="Dann757"]Sam how could you possibly embarass yourself more. Why don't you just post:

OHH BOO HOO EVERYTHING'S SO UNFAIR!!!

What, do you have a pathological condition?

We all have our bias, but don't bait us with an initial post and then turn around and say you've had enough.

Here's what the guy in your link is all about :

"Among his current cases, Professor Turley represents Dr. Ali Al-Timimi, who was convicted in Virginia in 2005 of violent speech against the United States. He also represents Dr. Sami Al-Arian, accused of being the American leader of a terrorist organization while he was a university professor in Florida."
Did you want to say you support this guy?


Yeah, rich people or anybody that meets the requirements gets a farm assessment. It's a legal claim since 1964 in NJ.

All the rich people I used to work for had a farm assessment. SO FREAKIN WHAT.

It lowers their already astronomical property taxes. My employer's taxes on one of their Morris County properties were in excess of $35,000 with the assessment.
One family had a ten acre front lawn, some of the most valuable and expensive real estate in the country. They harvested hay twice a year and sold it under contract to a local horse farm. The other guy harvested and sold firewood in accordance with the law.
What do you think, somebody just gave them their land and their success? They struggled for years to get what they earned and that's a direct quote from the lady that approved my paychecks for seven years.
I cleared an acre of their land one summer to prepare for an apple orchard, they were hard working people who succeeded in life. Man that really sticks in your craw doesn't it?
They spent $500,000 a year in property maintenance alone. Some of that money paid my salary and created jobs for the private sector. More power to them. Go live in Red China if you can't stand private ownership of land.

These people were self-made and never stop working.


http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/Farm ... tGuide.pdf

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If you're looking for something to do why don't you google the Mt. Laurel Decision? They forced low income housing in all the exclusive communities in NJ, I don't know how it's paid or subsidized, but I bet the high taxes the "rich" you hate so much has something to do with it. Low income housing also brings problems.

By the way, these same horrible rich people donated a $3,000,000.00 addition to the town church, had their own family foundation, and the list of charities I saw them support was impressive.

Keep digging up the extreme left wing articles!

Dann757 wrote:What, do you have a pathological condition?

That's not necessary, let's keep the personal comment to ourselves.

Thanks.