• HOW ARE MY TAXES CALCULATED?

  Your tax bill is based on the assessed value of your property divided by 100 (you pay taxes for every $100.00 in assessed value) and multiplied by the current year tax rate. For example: $130,000.00 average assessment divided by 100 = $1,300.00 x 4.192 (2006 tax rate) = $5,449.60 yearly taxes.

• WHAT MAKES UP THE LOCAL TAX RATE?

The tax rate is computed from the budgets of the local municipality, county, library, local school and regional high school. The elected officials of Berlin Borough only have control over the municipal budget and do not have total control over all of the pieces that can cause your tax rate to go up or down. Also Health Service Taxand Open Space Tax are portions of the tax rate.

 

• DOES THE BOROUGH OF BERLIN ACCEPT PAYMENTS BY CREDIT CARD OR PAY BY PHONE?

Unfortunately, at this time the Borough of Berlin does not have the capability to accept electronic payments. All payments can be mailed to the municipal building or left in our drop box that is located through the front doors of the municipal building.

 

• WHAT DO I DO IF I THINK MY WATER BILL IS TOO HIGH?

If you think your water bill is abnormally high, please call the water office as soon as possible after receiving your bill. We will send a meter reader out to your house to re-read your meter and check for the possibility of a leak.

• IF I HAVE A LEAK AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL?

If the leak is on your side of the meter, then you are responsible for paying for the water lost due to the leak.

 

• HOW DO I CHECK FOR WATER LEAKS?

You can check for water leaks by reading the water meter before you go to bed at night and then read your meter again in the morning before any water is used. If the reading on your meter has changed, that indicates a leak. You can also put food coloring in the tank of your toilet, after fifteen (15) minutes look into the bowl of the toilet. If the food coloring has leaked into the bowl of the toilet that indicates that your toilet is leaking.

 

• WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A SEWER BACKUP?

  During working hours, 7:00am - 3:30pm, you can call the borough sewer plant at 856-767-0056 and we will check the sewer main for any backups. If the back up is in the main the borough is responsible, if the backup is in the lateral (the lateral runs from the house to the main in the street) the homeowner must call a plumber. After working hours please contact a plumber. After 3:30 pm, if the plumber deems that the backup is in the main you can call 856-767-0056 and follow the instructions.

• HOW WAS MY ASSESSMENT DETERMINED?

Tax assessments are based on the market value of your property. Direct Sales Comparison, Cost and Income Approaches to value determine market value.

• WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT?

Assessment appeals must be filed with the Camden County Tax Board, the Tax Assessor and the Township Clerk by April 1 of the Tax Year. Forms and instructions are available from the Camden County Tax Board or the Tax Assessors’ Office.

• CAN I GET OWNERSHIP, BLOCK & LOT, SALE PRICE, DEED BOOK AND PAGE, OR ASSESSMENT INFORMATION?

To get this information you may come into the Assessors’ Office, call the office or make the request in writing and include a self addressed stamped envelope for the reply. We will not return information by facsimile unless you provide a toll free number. You can also find this information at the website njactb.org. Click on record search. Scroll to Camden County and Berlin Borough. Enter the name, property location or Block and Lot to find the additional information required.

• WHAT ARE YOUR TAX RATE AND SALES RATIO?

Tax Year....... Tax Rate...... Sales Ratio

2006 - $4.192/$100, 64.03%

• I'M BUYING A NEW HOUSE.  HOW MUCH WILL MY TAXES BE?

You can ESTIMATE your taxes by multiplying your final sales price by the sales ratio. Multiply this figure by the current years tax rate for an ESTIMATE of taxes. Example: You’re buying a house in the year 2006 for $250,000. $250,000 x 64.03% = $160,100. $160,100 x $4.192/$100 = $6,711.39 (ESTIMATED TAXES)

• HOW DO I APPLY FOR A 200-FOOT (ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS) LIST? WHEN WILL IT BE READY?

Send your request to the attention of the Borough Clerk. A fee of $10.00 is due for each separately owned parcel that is subject to request. A check made payable to the “Borough of Berlin” must accompany the application. Cash will be accepted if you hand deliver your application. We have seven business days to complete the list. The list will be mailed to you unless you make prior arrangements to pick up the list. The information will not be transmitted via facsimile.

• HOW CAN I APPLY FOR A VETERANS, SENIOR CITIZEN OR DISABLED PERSONS DEDUCTION?

The forms and instructions for applying for deductions are available from the Tax Assessor and Tax Collector.