Introduction – our Philosophy
Government agencies have through the years developed programs and plans for most every facet of our communities with the assumption that the financial undergirding would be present and not unduly burdensome. Given that for a lack of available funds we are in danger of cutting the local services our citizens actually desire and use, the need for a well-thought-out economic plan has never been more important than now. We must look to the novel and unconventional as well as revisit ideas broached in the past to close the gap between expenses and revenue.
Source: West Amwell Comprehensive Master Plan
What we control
Bear in mind that while the West Amwell Tax Collector collects the property taxes, not all the money goes to the Township. In fact, only about 17 cents out each dollar goes to West Amwell – another 17 cents goes to Hunterdon County, and the remaining 65 cents goes to the South Hunterdon Regional School District.
We track these data on the Township Website – click here to visit that page.
Oversight
How do we know that the Township is operating in our best interest? First: the township employs a (part time) Chief Financial Officer who is responsible for the receipt, disbursement, and investment of all funds. Second: public hearings are conducted to disclose all the planned spending for the fiscal year. Third: Every year an audit is conducted. Four: The Township has embodied a Finance Advisory Committee to provide guidance and recommendations to improve our fiscal health.
Click here to access the budgets and here to access the audits.
How do we know that the elected and appointed officials are not benefiting from their position? Each year all elected and appointed officials with any financial responsibility with the Township must file a Financial Disclosure Form with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. They provide a searchable database containing a list of these officers and access to their reports.
Click here to visit the DCA’s database search page.
Assessed Value and Tax Rate
The average assessed home value of the Township for 2024 was $527,520 which is an increase of $19,861 from the 2023 average assessed home value of $507,659.
We have seen an 18% increase in average home value over the last 4 years.
The average taxes then based on the average 2024 assessment are $11,832 – which equates to a tax rate of $2.243
So how does West Amwell stack up against our neighboring communities?
- To the south: Hopewell Township billed tax rate is $3.157
- To the east: East Amwell billed tax rate is $2.643
- To the west: Lambertville City billed tax rate is $2.167 + fire tax $0.144 = $2.311
- To the north: Flemington billed tax rate is $2.816
- To the northeast: Raritan billed tax rate is $2.897
- To the northwest: Delaware Township billed tax rate is $2.749
An Historical perspective
