Two towns choose ASI for reassessment

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Maplewood and South Orange will likely again use Appraisal Systems Inc. of Whippany for the upcoming joint property reassessment.

Maplewood and South Orange will be conducting the joint reassessment — though Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca said at the March 1 Maplewood Township Committee meeting that South Orange will be managing the reassessment — after the county ordered the two towns last summer to reassess properties.

ASI formerly performed revaluations in Maplewood in 2013 and in South Orange in 2008.

On March 1, the Township Committee voted unanimously to approve ASI as the reassessment firm; the South Orange Board of Trustees will vote on this measure at its March 14 meeting.

According to DeLuca, representatives from both towns interviewed three reassessment firms, but decided to go with ASI because it was lowest bidder at $55 per property, as opposed to the $60 or $65 per property proposed by the other firms. DeLuca said ASI was chosen because the firm will be posting its property assessments online for residents to see. Also, he reminded residents that, not only does ASI already know the two towns, but residents may see some of the same ASI employees assessing their homes.

According to DeLuca, the township is expected to pay $404,000 overall for the reassessment. South Orange Village President Sheena Collum told the News-Record that South Orange is expected to pay $267,170 overall.

  ASI, Reassessment