201-18 Tax Appeal - Richmond Towers.pdf

1 201-18 September 4, 2018 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Richland Towers, LLC has filed certain tax appeals for the years 2012 through 2014 seeking a reduction of their assessment which would reduce property taxes on their antenna tower; and WHEREAS, the Township of West Orange has filed affirmative appeals for the tax years 2015 through 2018; and WHEREAS, pursuant to contract, Blau & Blau handles all affirmative tax appeals as special tax counsel; and WHEREAS, Blau & Blau has retained Hannoch Appraisal Company for the affirmative cases; and WHEREAS, Mark Hendricks, CRE generally provides appraisals for defense cases; and WHEREAS, special tax counsel has conferred with all parties involved and determined it is most efficient for Hannoch Appraisal Company to be retained as the sole expert in this case for the year 2012 and forward; and WHEREAS, Hannoch Appraisal Company has provided a proposal to split the costs for the appraisals and any testimony; and WHEREAS, in 2011, the assessment was $747,700, in 2012 there was a four-month added assessment based upon a total of $4,754,100; and WHEREAS, the total assessment for 2013 through 2018 is $5,321,800; and WHEREAS, the taxes in dispute for the years 2012 through 2016 are over $900,000; and WHEREAS, special tax counsel has requested the Township hire Hannoch Appraisal Company to handle the defense case in order to inure continuity and similar appraisal methodologies.