Hightstown property owners should check their mailbox for their 2018-19 property tax bill, which was delayed in being mailed because of the late adoption of the state budget and changes to state aid to school districts.
The third quarter property tax payment was due Aug. 1, but because of the late mailing, Hightstown officials are extending the due date to Aug. 31 without penalty. If the bill is paid after Aug. 31, interest will accrue back to Aug. 1.
This year, Hightstown property owners will see a 5-cent decrease in the total property tax rate. The total tax rate for 2018 will be $4.16 per $100 of assessed valuation. The total tax rate in 2017 was $4.21 per $100.
For a home assessed at the Hightstown average of $212,622, the 2018 total tax bill will be $8,855. With an assessed value of $212,645 in 2017, the total tax bill was $8,952. The difference is a $97 decrease this year.
Breaking down the 2018 tax bill, the East Windsor Regional School District tax rate of $2.17 per $100 of assessed valuation accounts for 52 percent of the total tax bill.
The Hightstown municipal tax rate of $1.29 per $100 of assessed valuation accounts for 31 percent of the total tax bill.
The combined Mercer County tax rate of 70 cents per $100 of assessed valuation makes up 20.69 percent of the total tax bill. This includes the county government, the county library system and the county open space tax.
Although property owners pay their taxes to Hightstown, the town serves as the tax collector and distributes the money that is due to each entity – the school district, the county and the municipality.
