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Council adopts $445,000 special emergency appropriation for borough-wide revaluation; appraisal contract on agenda
Summary
On July 14 the council adopted Ordinance 1725-26, authorizing a $445,000 special emergency appropriation to fund a complete revaluation of all real property and noted a contract with Appraisal Systems, Inc. for the work; council explained the statute allows spreading costs over five budget years and voted 5–0 to adopt.
The Emerson governing body on July 14 adopted Ordinance 1725-26, authorizing a special emergency appropriation of $445,000 to prepare and execute a borough-wide revaluation of all real property.
Municipal Clerk (Miss DeSimone) read the ordinance title: "Ordinance authorizing special emergency appropriation of $445,000 for the preparation and execution of a complete program of revaluation of all real property." Municipal staff explained the mechanism under state statute that permits municipalities to treat revaluation as an extraordinary expense and amortize the cost over five budget years.
"We are using state statute special emergency appropriations, which helps municipalities deal with what are called extraordinary, unspecifiable expenses… specifically revaluation projects, which allows us to fund those costs over a duration of five budget years," staff said, noting similar procedures in neighboring municipalities.
The council opened public comment on the ordinance and heard none. On a roll call vote the ordinance passed 5–0. Staff said the meeting's agenda included a contract award for appraisal services (Appraisal Systems, Inc.) that aligns with the ordinance and said public information sessions will be scheduled so residents can ask questions before the revaluation work begins.
The revaluation was ordered by the Bergen County Board of Taxation in October 2024 and was delayed by work to adopt and approve the borough tax maps; staff said the contract and revaluation timeline will be coordinated with the borough tax assessor and that funding may use emergency notes or surplus as allowed by statute.
Councilmembers voted unanimously to adopt the appropriation ordinance; the contract award and public meetings on the revaluation were described as forthcoming steps.
