The Homestead Rebate used to be a 20% refund on your property taxes and it applied to all homeowners. It was kind of nice getting that check from the state every year and it took some of the sting out of JC's tax increases. However, the Homestead Rebate program was scaled back significantly when the recession started - in all fairness, it was Corzine, not Christie, who sharply curtailed the rebate program. To qualify (as of the 2012 tax year) you need to be a senior with an annual income no more than $150k. For non-seniors, the income threshold is $75k.

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When did he get rid of the Homestead Rebate? I filed online a few days ago.

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+1. And on top of that, Christie got rid of the Homestead Rebate.

Just imagine the taxes JC residents would be paying if they paid their fair share of school costs, rather than having other NJ taxpayers picking up most of it. (NJ pays for over 75% of the almost 650 million dollar cost of JC schools), local JC taxes cover less than 17%. My hometown pays 86% of the school costs with property taxes.

The municipal budget is divided into two parts: in cap and outside cap. In cap is subjected to the 2% limit but outside cap is not. Debt service is part of the outside cap. Emergencies like Sandy was also outside of cap.

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Because its a smoke and mirrors gimmick.

My taxes have gone up 25% in the last 4 years that's over 6% a year with 2010 being the highest at nearly 15%.

sounds like a pretty legitimate cap they have there.

I believe the 2% cap applies only to certain parts of property taxes (e.g., municipal but not county or schools). And there are exceptions made for debt payments, emergencies, and health/pension costs.

Looks like I'm paying 4% more in 2013 versus 2012. How come it's not 2%?