Jersey City homeowners should expect a small refund after the city made an error calculating the Arts & Culture Trust Fund tax.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“This week, we realized that the assessor implemented the Arts Trust Fund in your tax bill at the higher end of the possible range (.02 cents per $100) when in reality, we agreed with the City Council that this should be at the low end of the range (.002 cents per $100),” Mayor Steven Fulop wrote on the city’s Facebook page.
“As a result of this change, the average homeowner will be receiving an $88 further reduction in their taxes on the average assessment of $480,000. This further reduction will be reflected in the 4th quarter tax bill, which we will be sending out the second week of October.”
The Monday morning announcement came after the city was panned for the mistake on social media for the better part of Sunday and many still expressed annoyance after the fact.
“Local administration can’t do simple math when it comes to residents’ taxes. Got it,” tweeted local artist Amy Wilson.
“This administration reminds of the student in class who always had to be 1st to hand in a test. No checking. No proofreading. Just had to be 1st. It usually didn’t end well for the student & it usually doesn’t end well w/the city. We don’t need things first. We need them right,” wrote Ward A council candidate Kristen Zadroga Hart.
Many credited Jersey City Art House Productions Board President Robinson Holloway as being the first to point out the miscalculation on Next Door.
In his explanation, Fulop noted they are the first to implement an arts and culture tax, which was approved via referendum overwhelmingly in November, and therefore “growing pains” were expected.
“These funds are 100% dedicated to supporting local nonprofits, and the administering of the funds is decided entirely by the community,” their Facebook post continued.
“These funds will go a long way to stabilizing organizations that would otherwise no longer exist in the current environment but the good news today for every resident is a reduction of another $88 on the average house will be reflected in the 4th quarter.”
Back in March, officials said that the Arts & Culture and Open Space Trust Funds were expected to generate $1 million each.
