Farm Tax Breaks for N.J. Celebrities

MYFOXNY.COM - Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen have been making hit music for years and its no surprise that they've earned enough money to buy big mansions with acres of property, but what might surprise you is the huge tax breaks they, and others, are getting.

It turns out, as far as New Jersey tax collectors are concerned, that they are farmers.

Almost a million acres in New Jersey are certified as farmland. Owners who own at least five acres, practice some kind of agriculture, or manage the trees on their property and sell $500 worth of goods a year qualify for a significant tax break.

They do have to pay the full taxes on their homes, and non-farm property.

Through a trust, Bruce Springsteen owns more than 200 acres in Colts Neck. the taxes for his house and three acres are more than $138,000. But because of the farm tax break, the tax bill on a little more than 200 additional acres is less than $5,000. Town officials say he has horses and an organic farmer working some of the land. A lawyer for the trust had no comment.

In another part of Monmouth County, Bon Jovi has and estate on the Navesink River. Taxes on the mansion and some property add up to $295,68 but his tax bill on an additional 6.85 aces is $104 because he raises honeybees.

A spokesman for Bon Jovi issued a statement saying, "Jon is scrupulous about paying his fair share of taxes. The exemption for raising honey bees existed long before he purchased that land, and he continues to employ a beekeeper and raise honeybees..."

Max Weinberg, E-Street Band drummer, and former band leader on Late Night With Conan O'Brien owns 36 heavily wooded acres near Bon Jovi. Taxes on his home and two acres are $49,068. But the tax bill for the additional 34 acres is $122 because he sells wood.

It's not just celebrities getting the break.

Steve Katz owns pharmacies in Brooklyn. He moved to Colt's Neck so he and his family could have horses and a place to ride. He pays $18,616 in taxes for his house and one acre of land. The tax bill on an additional five acres of farmland is only $65 because he sells hay.

And 9 other homeowners in the same subdivision get the farm tax break.

The tax break law dates back to the 60s, And in the 90's when Republican Christine Todd Whitman was first running for governor it became a big issue because she and her husband claimed the tax break for their farms.

But many say these tax breaks help preserve New Jersey open space and limit development. And Middletown manager Tony Mercantante thinks that can be a good thing.

Merchantante says, "Farming certainly is an activity that the state's been looking to preserve to the extend possible and farmland assessment has allowed farmers to survive."

People in favor or the tax breaks worry that backlash will force a change that hurts real farmers and possible jeopardize agriculture in New Jersey.

But Mercantante says change could occur, and bring more tax money to town's like his, without hurting real farmers.

"I think there should be a sliding scale approach to farmland assessment based upon the extend of your farming activity," Merchantante says.

New York State has a tougher standard. It requires land owners sell $10,000 worth of goods for the farming exemption. That's a dramatic contrast with New Jersey's $500 in sales.

State Senator Jennifer Beck thinks the time may be right to change the law.

Beck says, "I think it is unfair to our other property taxpayers. If you are a fake farmer, and you don't legitimately farm, you are getting a property tax break you are forcing your neighbor to pick up your tab. And that was not the intent of the law. It's violation of the public trust."

It's not just celebrities and people who like the country who get this big break. Large corporations are holding on to cropland and hiring farmers so they can score tax breaks.

Because of the complicated tax rules it's not clear how much money the state might gain if the law is changed. A spokesman for New Jersey Governor Christie said the issue isn't on his radar yet, but it might be in future.