Tax & Utility Rates

Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

The State Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) can help you pay arrears for your water and sewer bills. The program may also be able to help address tax liens due to water and sewer arrears. To get more information and apply, go to waterassistance.nj.gov or call NJ211.

TAX AND UTILITY PAYMENT OPTIONS

Option 1: PAY TAX AND UTILITY PAYMENTS – SEARCH TAX AND UTILITY BALANCES

Option 2: Mailing a check: Checks can be sent to 97 West Main Street, High Bridge NJ 08829.

Option 3: Secure blue check payment drop box located at 97 West Main Street, High Bridge NJ 08829

Option 4: Cash payment in person between 8:30am and 4pm, Monday through Friday excluding holidays and Covid-19 closures at 97 West Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829.

Option 5: Hand delivered to Investors Bank, 55 Old Highway 22, Clinton, NJ 08809

Note: You must indicate “HIGH BRIDGE TAXES” or “HIGH BRIDGE UTILITIES” on the outside of any envelope. Delinquent payments will not be accepted at Investors Bank and must be sent directly to Borough Hall.

TAX BILL INFORMATION

Taxes are due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. Payments received after the 10 day grace period, will accrue interest from the original due date. Post-dated checks are not accepted.

If you received a bill that says ADVICE Copy Do Not Pay, it means our records indicate a bank or mortgage company is making payments from an escrow account on your behalf. If this is not the case, you will be directly responsible for making the payment. To look up the amount due this quarter, please click on Individual Property Tax Information.

ANCHOR PROGRAM (FORMERLY HOMESTEAD BENEFITS PROGRAM)

Eligible applicants received a credit on the May 1 and November 1 property tax bills. Questions? 1-888-238-1233
https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/anchor/index.shtmlwww.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/eligibility.shtml

PROPERTY TAX REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM / SENIOR FREEZE

Only applicants whose 2020 income did not exceed $92,969 are eligible to receive a reimbursement payment, provided they met all the other requirements.

Applications for the 2020 property tax reimbursement (Senior Freeze) were mailed in February to senior citizens and disabled residents who may be eligible for the program. The deadline for filing the application is: November 1, 2021.

The Division of Taxation mailing of checks to qualified applicants will be done as per the State of New Jersey.

The Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze) Program reimburses qualified applicants for the property tax increases they incur each year. The amount of the reimbursement is the difference between the property taxes due and paid in the applicant’s “base year” and the property taxes for the current year. Applicants must continue to meet all the income eligibility and residency requirements and must file an application each year to receive the reimbursement.

Forms and Application Here

More information at 1 (800) 882-6597 – www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr/

ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX DEDUCATION FOR SENIORS, DISABLED PERSONS

Annual deduction of up to $250 from property taxes for homeowners 65 or older or disabled who meet certain income and residency requirements.
Click here for Form 1 and Click here for Form 2

ANNUAL DEDUCTION FOR VETERANS

(N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.10 et seq.as amended by P.L. 2019 c.413; N.J.A.C. 18:27-1.1 et seq.)

On November 3, 2020, an amendment to the State Constitution was approved by ballot vote: Question #2. This amendment provides that N.J. resident honorably discharged veterans, or their surviving spouses no longer need to serve during a specific war period or other emergency to receive the annual $250 property tax deduction.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS All requirements for deduction must be met as of October 1 of the pretax year, i.e., the year prior to the calendar tax year for which the deduction is claimed.

Veteran Claimant as of October 1 pretax year must:
have had active duty service in United States Armed Forces and been honorably discharged; 2. own the property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed; 3. be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.
Surviving Spouse/Civil Union or Domestic Partner Claimant as of October 1 pretax year must: 1. document that the deceased veteran or serviceperson was a resident of New Jersey at death who had active duty service in the United States Armed Forces and who was honorably discharged or who died on active duty; 2. not have remarried/formed a new registered civil union or domestic partnership; 3. be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey; 4. own the property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed.

Completed application and supporting documentation must be filed with the local municipal Tax Assessor (assessor@highbridge.org).
Click here for the Veterans Deduction Form

If you served in Peacekeeping Missions and Operations, you must also file a Supplemental Form.

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS

Full exemption from property taxes on a principal residence for certain totally and permanently disabled war veterans and veterans who served in peacekeeping missions and operations. This exemption also is available to a surviving spouse/civil union/domestic partner who has not remarried.
Claim Form

For information about State Property Tax Relief Programs, including eligibility criterion and potential deduction or credit amounts, please visit the Division of Taxation’s website at https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml

TAX RATES

	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Net County Taxes	.337	.336	.347	.361	.337	0.336	.347	.349
County Library	.034	.033	.035	.036	.033	0.033	.035	.034
County Open Space	.033	.033	.034	.035	.033	0.032	.034	.033
Regional High School	.595	.517	.526	.580	.545	0.599	.672	.659
District Schools	1.798	1.898	1.994	2.072	2.106	2.129	2.121	1.940
Municipal Taxes	1.012	1.037	1.027	1.047	1.045	1.046	1.046	.939
Total	3.809	3.854	3.963	4.131	4.1	4.175	4.255	3.954

TAX ANALYSIS

Tax Year	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Current Budget	$5,945,709	$6,092,018	$6,192,806	$6,363,712	$6,616,930.96
% Increase	1%	2.46%	1.65%	2.75%	3.98%
Surplus Utilized	$800,000	$900,000	$900,000	$900,000	$900,000
% Increase	60%	12.5%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Amount to be Raised	$3,453,104	$3,484,068	$3,512,504	$3,595,249	$3,593,163.05
% Increase	2%	0.90%	0.82%	2.35%	-0.06%

WATER RATES

Year	2016 Tiers	2016 Charge	2017 Tiers	2017 Charge	2018 Tiers	2018 Charge	2019 Tiers	2019 Charge	2020 Tiers	2020 Charge	2021 Charge	2022 Charge	2023
First 1/4	0 to 1 unit	$15.00 per thousand	0 to 1 unit	$50.00	Base Rate	$50.00	Base Rate	$50.00	Base Rate	$50.00	$50.00	$50.00	$65.00
First 5	Next 14 units	$4.32 per thousand	Next 14 units	$4.50 per unit	Usage >0	$6.25 per unit	Usage > 0	$6.25 per unit	Usage > 0	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit
Next 10	Next 35 units	$7.40 per thousand	Next 35 units	$7.40 per unit
Next 25	Over 50 units	$9.40 per thousand	Over 50 units	$10.00 per unit
Next 10
Above 50

Water Charge per thousand gallons

COMMERCIAL RATES

	2016 Tiers	2016	2017 Tiers	2017 Charges	2018 Tiers	2018 Charges	2019 Tiers	2019 Charges	2020 Tiers	2020 Charges	2021 Charges	2022 Charges	2023 Charges
Commercial Rate = < 5,000	0 to 5 units	$10.00 per thousand	0 to 5 units	$10.00 per thousand	Base rate	$50 / qtr.	Base rate	$50.00	Base Rate	$50.00	$50.00	$50.00	$50.00
Commercial Rate = Next 10,000	Next 10 units	$5.53 per unit	Next 10 units	$5.65 per unit	Usage > 0	$6.25 per unit	Usage > 0	$6.25 per unit	Usage > 0	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit	$6.25 per unit
Commercial Rate = Next 15,000	Next 15 units	$6.92 per thousand	Next 15 units	$7.25 per thousand
Commercial Rate = > 30,000 gallons	Over 30 units	$5.13 per thousand	Over 30 units	$6.92 per thousand