As if one lawsuit against Montclair township isn't enough, resident Jim Pond, feeling the tax asssessment sting now, more than ever, thinks there's cause for another. From The Montclair Times:
The town of Montclair is in a sorry state. As taxes skyrocket, services plummet. The latest opportunity for the town to dip into our pockets has arisen in the form of new property evaluations.Excessive increases in many cases are compelling good neighbors to sell and move. When they list their homes however, their dilemma becomes three-fold.
First, they find their homes are not worth near what they have been assessed for.
Second, the subsequent increased taxes make a sale even more difficult.
Third, the increased taxes force mortgage companies to double the escrow deposits, effectively tripling one's monthly obligation overnight, leveling additional and unwarranted stress.
Many of those I have spoken with who have appealed their assessments have had success. Nonetheless, that was not without expense. It might be time to supplement the appeals process with a class-action suit naming the individuals that brought this about.Taking the town to court doesn't compel anyone in town government to do the right thing. Naming them individually would get their attention.
There are 15,000-plus homes in Montclair. If each home spent $100 on a legal fund to save 10 times that on their taxes, that money would be well spent. That would be quite a coffer from which to hire real representation.
It’s just an idea. Maybe one whose time has come.
Anyone interested could respond with a letter to the editor. If the response warrants real initiative, I will take out an ad listing a time, place, etc. to meet.
JIM POND
Montclair
Let me see. We'd sue individual local politicians for facilitating a property revaluation mandated by state law?
Good luck with that. As for me I can think of a lot better ways to waste $100.