Appeal Saves Property Owner $122K in Taxes

Officials have settled a tax appeal between the township and the owner of the Glen Eagle Shopping Center on Route 23 South.

The owner of the 5-acre property, which contains a Staples, a Dunkin’ Donuts and several other businesses, will receive a $122,000 rebate for taxes paid between 2010 and 2012, confirmed Robert Miller, chief financial officer of the township.

The land and building is assessed at more than $5.9 million for the 2013 tax year; the land is valued at more than $3.2 million, the building at more than $2.6 million. The property owner paid slightly more than $289,000 in taxes in 2012.

The number of tax appeals filed against the township has increased dramatically in recent years. More than 1,100 appeals were filed in 2012, up from just 39 a few years ago.

Tax appeals are filed with the Passaic County Board of Taxation. The taxes themselves cannot be appealed, only the assessment of a property’s value can be appealed.

Willowbrook Center LLC, which owns an office building next to the Willowbrook Mall, for taxes it paid between 2009 and 2012.

The town council approves tax appeals at its bi-monthly meetings.

Councilman Alan Purcell previously said that the township settles appeals “too fast and too easily.”

“Every time we settle, because our administration feels that’s the best course of action, the residents have to make up the difference,” Purcell said.

Mayor Chris Vergano did not respond to a request for comment.

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