The average Red Bank taxpayer paid less in property taxes in 2012 as compared to the statewide average, although the average total bill increased a bit more than the average bill statewide as compared to 2011. 

In contrast, Shrewsbury Borough taxpayers spent more on average than New Jersey taxpayers elsewhere but actually experienced a decline in their bills from 2011.

The data is contained within a Star Ledger analysis that looked at the average bills in all 566 municipalities in the state in 2012, two years after the Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie enacted a hard 2 percent cap on local budget growth.

Red Bank had an average $7,050.74 tax bill in 2012, as compared to the $7,870.28 state average. However, the analysis found that the statewide average growth over 2011 was 1.7, with Red Bank's average bill increasing 2 percent.

Shrewsbury far outstripped the average tax bill statewide, with residents paying $10,718.68 for local services. However, that 2012 bill declined by 0.7 percent from 2011, leaving the borough among only 119 municipalities statewide to see a decline in the total average bill.

The analysis shows only 92 municipalities had a higher total bill than Shrewsbury did in 2012. Red Bank was decidedly middle of the pack, with 298 municipalities paying more on average in 2012.

The Star-Ledger noted that property taxes statewide rose 2.4 percent in 2011, the first year Christie’s 2 percent cap was in effect. But the trend of lower increases could be reversed because of Hurricane Sandy costs, according to the report.

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