M–W: 8:30–4:30
Thurs: 8:30–7:30
Fri: 8:30–12:30
(732) 222-8221
910 Oceanport Way
PO Box 370
Oceanport, NJ 07757
Office of the Mayor - COVID-19 Update No. 10
APRIL 29, 2020 @ 2:00 pm COVID-19 UPDATE NO. 10
Please be advised that Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 130 (issued on 4/28/2020) did NOT extend the grace period for the payment of 2nd quarter real estate taxes to June 1, 2020. Instead, Executive Order No. 130 merely allows “any governing body of a municipality with a calendar year budget” (such as Oceanport) to “adopt a resolution instituting a grace period concluding on a date no later than June 1, 2020 for the payment of second quarter property taxes.”
While Executive Order No. 130 seems to be beneficial for the taxpayers, it does not relieve municipalities obligations to make their statutorily required payments to the schools and the county, nor does it provide for any assistance to the municipalities in connection with these payments. Simply stated, Executive Order No. 130 really doesn’t provide taxpayers with relief because the taxpayers are the municipality and the municipality still has to pay its statutorily required bills on time.
As it stands now, 2nd quarter real property taxes in Oceanport remain due and payable on May 1, 2020, subject to the normal, statutory ten-day grace period ending on May 11, 2020.
The Borough Council does not meet again until Thursday, May 7, 2020. Short of holding a Special Meeting, no decision as to whether the grace period will be extended for an additional 21 days can take place until that date. I am sure that there will be much discussion on this topic at the May 7, 2020 meeting.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, our Borough Council meetings are taking place remotely. Members of the public are encouraged to watch our remote meetings on FIOS Channel 28. Members of the public can also watch our meetings on their smart phones, computers or tablets by going to the Borough’s website at www.oceanportboro.com and clicking on the “Watch Live” button. Members of the public can participate in the remote meetings via land line, smartphone, computer or tablet by going to the Borough’s website and clicking on the “Instructions for Participation in Virtual/Remote Meetings” button and choosing the option (voice, text, e-mail, phone call, etc.) that best suits their needs and available technology.
Jay Coffey
Mayor of Oceanport