Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 13, 2010 Assessor: Reassessment well underway in borough by Jennifer Crusco The reassessment of properties in the Borough of HoHo-Kus is well underway. As of Sept. 30, representatives from Appraisal Systems, Inc. of Glen Rock had already completed 650 home and business inspections, with another 930 to go, according to Ho-Ho-Kus Tax Assessor Marie Merolla. The assessor noted 10-13-10 janine that the pleasant weather and cooperative property owners have been making the process run HoHoKusSidewalkBanner(10-13-10) done by the smoothly. She anticipates the project will be end 1” 6 x of the year. Merolla said data from the inspections and real estate sales from the last three years will be taken into consideration as new assessments are calculated. New values will be used for the 2011 tax year. The current effort is a reassessment, rather than a revaluation, which is a more extensive process. The Ho-Ho-Kus Council recently approved an emergency appropriation of $60,000 and hired Appraisal Systems, Inc. to carry out the reassessment of borough properties. According to the resolution hiring Appraisal Systems, the borough “is fully aware of the impact of current economic conditions on the values of real property and…as a result of the current economic conditions, the mayor and council determined that it would be in the best interests of the borough and its taxpayers to have a fair and equitable reassessment of present market values.” The borough’s last revaluation was conducted in 2005, and took place at the height of the real estate market. The drop in values since that time led the borough to consider a reassessment and the potential implications of tax appeals. When Appraisal Systems was conducting home inspections in 2005, many houses throughout the country were selling for more than the asking price. By the end of that year, the market had stabilized, and real estate prices have declined in the last five years. The borough’s base contract with Appraisal Systems is $45,000. Ho-Ho-Kus will also pay the company for holding informal meetings with taxpayers at a rate of $60 per hour, performing Bergen County Board of Taxation work on the borough’s behalf at $75 per hour, and working with the New Jersey State Tax Court work at $100 per hour. The New Jersey Division of Taxation evaluates three criteria in issuing revaluation orders: time, ratio, and coef- ����������������������� ��������������� ficient. Time refers to whether a municipality has had a revaluation or a reassessment within the last 10 years. Prior to the 2005 revaluation, the borough had undergone a reassessment in the mid-1990s. Ratio refers to the difference between the sale price of a home and its market value. In most cases, the state is concerned with ratios of less than 85 percent, which indicate the housing market is too far ahead of the true value of a property. According to the state, coefficient, the difference between the average ratio and an individual ratio, should not show deviation of over 12 percent. The Warren Avenue Bridge in Ho-Ho-Kus will be closed to all motorists and pedestrians until the end of the year. At press time, Bergen County had planned to close the bridge beginning Monday, Oct. 11 so work crews could begin a complete refurbishment of the structure. Plans call for new reinforcements, resurfacing of the deck, new sidewalks, and a new light, according to HoHo-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli. The administrator said residents would be notified of the project via Reverse 911 calls. Flagmen will direct traffic in the area, and detours around the construction project will be posted by Bergen County, Cirulli said. Built in 1905, the Warren Avenue Bridge is a through truss bridge that allows vehicular and pedestrian traffic to Warren Avenue Bridge to be repaired cross over the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook on Warren Avenue. Through truss bridges, so named because traffic – and in some instances, trains – are permitted to travel through the box created by the metal structure, are constructed with two side trusses that are connected across the top and bottom. The steel trusses are created from riveted metal plates and bars that form “truss members.” Those metal pieces are connected in a way that forms rectangular and triangular shaped sections with open spaces between them. This type of construction allows truss bridges to accommodate heavy vehicles without being bulky themselves. The Warren Avenue Bridge, which is eligible for listing on the National Register of History Places, was reportedly rehabilitated by Bergen County in 1921. J. CRUSCO A DOG’S BEST FRIEND All Breed Dog Grooming Over 30 years of prominent grooming by Lorraine Swinarton Former owner of The Woof Furry Integrity Floor Company: Get the job done right ntegrity Floor Company has decorating options to make each home radiate warmth, whether it was constructed in the last 100 years or the last 100 days. Rich has packed his 622 North Maple Avenue showroom with a dizzying array of cutting-edge flooring samples. Choose from exotic hardwoods, wall-to-wall carpet, and patterned runners and area rugs. Laminate options include wood or Rich Holzberg tile look flooring that is great for the lower levels or other areas that might be subject to dampness or spills. Integrity Floors also offers solid vinyl tile, and VCT (vinyl composition tile) for commercial and residential use. Existing floors can be sanded and finished to a homeowner’s taste, and inlaid borders are a specialty. Rich also offers a shop at home service for buyers’ convenience. During a home visit, Rich gets a feel for a homeowner’s taste, measures each space, and provides his professional opinion about the best options for each room. Homeowners who work with Integrity Floor Company also have the benefit of working with the owner from start to finish, so the finished product will be just what was ordered. Let Rich put his 26 years of experience to work for you. He offers competitive prices for builders and new construction. Call (201) 652-7770 today for more information about updating your home with Integrity Floor Company. I 604 N. Maple Avenue Ho-Ho-Kus (one hydrant up from Sicilian Sun) 201-447-9577 Hours by appointment Lose Weight & Get Strong American Eagle Martial Arts 10-13-10 mike/janine for the Whole Family! Training WoofCuts3x3(10-13-10) 3 x 3” Rev1 www.philross.com 201.612.1429 Ho-Ho-Kus