Stafford tax bills climb
after the reassessment

Stafford Township's property tax levy, the total it collects, rose from about $118.7 million in 2025 to $134.1 million in 2026, an increase of about $15.4 million, or 12.96%. The bill Stafford mails covers the township, Ocean County and two school districts, and residents filled the September 15 council meeting to ask about it, according to Jersey Shore Online.

The Stafford School District's levy rose the most, 18.95%, to about $44.1 million. The county portion rose 13.54%, the township's own levy 8.97%, and Stafford's share of the Southern Regional School District about 6.92%. The township puts the average 2026 residential bill at $9,088.38 and the average residential assessment at $643,653.

This year's bills follow Stafford's first reassessment since 2018. Assessed values were 100% of market value in 2018 and 55.89% of market value by 2025. After a reassessment, each owner's share of the taxes follows the home's new value, so one bill depends partly on how that home's value changed compared with others in the township.

Appeals of an assessment are heard by the Ocean County Board of Taxation, not the township council. The tax bill itself cannot be appealed, only the assessed value, and the county lists recent sales of similar homes among the strongest evidence.

If you own in Stafford, we can show you what similar homes nearby have sold for and talk through what your home is worth today.