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Resident urges Bedminster to study whether farmers' tax break is being abused, proposes $1,000 application fee
Summary
At the June 2 meeting a Bedminster resident, Steve Rousavi, urged the committee to research the Farmland Assessment Act and whether municipalities could lawfully require a $1,000 annual application fee to fund assessor resources and curb alleged misuse of the program.
A Bedminster resident on June 2 urged township officials to investigate whether the state’s Farmland Assessment Act is being misused and whether the township can take local steps to hold claimants accountable.
"The farmland assessment law is being used today is the biggest tax scam in the state of New Jersey," said Steve Rousavi, who identified himself as a Bedminster resident of Autumn Ridge Road. Rousavi said tax assessors he has spoken to describe capacity problems and suggested the township could explore a $1,000 annual application fee for properties claiming farmland assessment to fund assessor work and limit improper eligibility.
Mayor Jacobs acknowledged the concern but noted that authority over the farmland assessment process largely resides with the state. He asked township staff — naming John and Colin — to research how the state statute authorizes farmland assessment applications and whether municipalities have legal authority to require application fees or other local changes.
Rousavi framed his proposal as investigatory rather than immediate policy change, saying he understands municipalities cannot unilaterally change state law but hoped the township could determine what actions, if any, are permissible.
What happens next: township staff were assigned to research statutory authority and report back to the committee. The transcript does not record a staff report or legal conclusion at the meeting.
