Legislation co-sponsored by Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli that would exempt flood-prone properties acquired by municipalities from county, school and fire district property taxes for the following tax year was approved by the General Assembly on Monday.
Under current law, if a municipality acquires such a property after Oct. 1, it must pay the county, school and fire district property taxes owed for all or the remainder of the following tax year.
Municipalities receive grants for acquiring flood-prone property for conservation purposes under the Blue Acres Program. Towns may also receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a similar purpose.
”One of the best solutions to correct repetitive flooding and provide relief to affected homeowners, whether at the Jersey Shore or along the Delaware, Raritan or Millstone rivers, is for municipalities to use Blue Acres and FEMA programs to purchase homes in flood-prone areas,” said Mr. Ciattarelli, a Republican who lives in Hillsborough and represents Manville in the 16th District. “With that in mind, we should be doing all we can to eliminate financial impediments and make the Blue Acres and FEMA programs as successful as possible.”
Another co-sponsor, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, R-Bergen and Passaic, said, “The flooding caused by Superstorm Sandy last year and the devastation witnessed in 2011 by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee has increased the awareness of towns that continuously deal with this problem. A municipality should not be deterred from purchasing property from a willing seller because they cannot afford that property’s tax liability. Experience has taught us that once-in-a-generation storms are occurring more frequently, and proper planning is needed to account for that possibility in order to limit the impact. “
”Conservation programs, such as Blue Acres, or funds received from FEMA for acquiring properties that are chronically subject to flooding are extremely beneficial in the effort to reduce the impact on a municipality,” Ms. Schepisi said. “The effort to preserve open space should not be derailed because a town cannot afford to assume the obligation of paying a seller’s property taxes. That financial responsibility may thwart an otherwise beneficial transaction to both the homeowner and the town.”
The bill, A-3362, is co-sponsored by Ms. Schepisi and Mr. Ciattarelli as well as five other Republicans and five Democrats.

