William E. Cleary Sr. | Cleary’s Notebook News
GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (August 16, 2026)–Gloucester City residents received their 2026–27 property tax bills last week, and many are expressing frustration over unusually steep increases. CNBNews has heard from several taxpayers who say their bills jumped far beyond what they expected.
View of downtown Gloucester City from the Walt Whitman Bridge
photo by Famartin – Own work
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One resident, Sandy Reed, who ran unsuccessfully for council in the November 2025 election, told CNBNews her row‑home tax bill increased by $800. Reed asked the same question many residents are now asking: Why so high?
Several factors may be contributing:
Read more: Data Shows Gloucester City Property Taxes One Of the Highest in SJThe Archer & Greiner legal fees, $1.3 million, continue to climb as the firm represents taxpayers in the $10.5 million lawsuit filed by developer Rocco D’Antonio.
The $2.6 million in wetland mitigation credits the NJDEP is requiring Gloucester City to submit — a penalty tied to the city’s failure to file mandatory paperwork related to contamination at 850 Water Street.
The mayor and council have told the NJDEP that the doesn’t have the necessary funds to buy the $2.6 million in wetland mitigation funds. This year’s budget shows the city has a $2.5 million surplus. That same document reveals outstanding debt totals $10,196,421
These modern‑day concerns echo a familiar theme in Gloucester City history: residents questioning rising taxes, demanding accountability, and asking what they’re getting in return.
| Tax Component | Rate per $100 | Percentage of Total Bill | Total Dollar Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Tax (inc. Library) | 3.213 | 58.87% | $4,642.97 |
| School Tax | 1.349 | 24.27% | $1,914.23 |
| County Tax (inc. Open Space) | 0.937 | 16.86% | $1,329.60 |
| Total | 5.558 | 100.00% | $7,886.80 |
Below is a breakdown of the property tax on our Riverview Heights home
- Total Tax Rate: 5.558% (or $5.558 per $100 of assessed value).
- Total Net Tax (2026): $7,886.80.
- Total Assessed Value: $141,900 (Land: $35,000 + Improvements: $106,900).
Compared to the 2025 rate of 5.293%, Gloucester City’s property tax rate increased notably to 5.558% for the 2026-27 Tax Year. We looked at Camden County municipalities that match Gloucester City’s unique profile: a compact land area (between 1.5 to 3.5 square miles) paired with a dense, mid-sized population (roughly 7,000 to 15,000 residents). [1, 2]
The breakdown explicitly shows that Municipal Taxes account for the largest individual share by a wide margin:
When isolating towns with this specific scale, Gloucester City is carrying a higher property tax rate than any comparable community in the county.
Size and Population Peer Group
The closest structural matches to Gloucester City across the county highlight how differently local budgets impact similar populations: [1]
| Municipality | Land Area | Population | 2025 General Tax Rate | Key Tax Dynamics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester City | 2.8 sq. mi. | ~11,400 | 5.558%(2026 actual) | Highest rate in the peer group. The municipal portion consumes a massive 58.87% share of the tax dollar. |
| Bellmawr | 3.0 sq. mi. | ~11,750 | 4.25% | Nearly identical footprint and population. A more diversified commercial corridor along the Black Horse Pike helps distribute the burden. |
| Haddon Heights | 1.6 sq. mi. | ~7,500 | 3.31% | Dense but higher property values. Higher average assessments mean the town can generate revenue with a substantially lower total rate. |
| Runnemede | 2.1 sq. mi. | ~8,350 | 4.12% | Similar mid-sized borough infrastructure. Balanced allocation between school and municipal levies avoids spikes. |
| Audubon | 1.5 sq. mi. | ~8,730 | 3.89% | Dense residential hub. Operates with an efficient structural cost-to-assessment ratio. |
The Structural Reality
Many of these communities share the exact same challenge: they are fully developed with very little blank acreage to build new, revenue-generating commercial projects or modern industrial complexes.
These modern‑day concerns echo a familiar theme in Gloucester City history: residents questioning rising taxes, demanding accountability, and asking what they’re getting in return. Below is one such example
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Verified Bill Details
- Total Net Tax (2026): $7,886.80.
- Total Tax Rate: 5.558% (or $5.558 per $100 of assessed value).
- Total Assessed Value: $141,900 (Land: $35,000 + Improvements: $106,900).
Actual 2026 Tax Rate Breakdown
The breakdown explicitly shows that Municipal Taxes account for the largest individual share by a wide margin:
| Tax Component | Rate per $100 | Percentage of Total Bill | Total Dollar Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Tax (inc. Library) | 3.213 | 58.87% | $4,642.97 |
| School Tax | 1.349 | 24.27% | $1,914.23 |
| County Tax (inc. Open Space) | 0.937 | 16.86% | $1,329.60 |
| Total | 5.558 | 100.00% | $7,886.80 |
Compared to the 5.293% rate from 2025, Gloucester City’s property tax rate did experience a notable increase up to 5.558% for the 2026 calendar year.
Exact Dollar Increase
Breakdown of the effect of the new Gloucester City Property tax on a Riverview Heights home owner.
- 2026 Property Tax Bill (at 5.558%): $7,886.80 (As shown on your statement).
- 2025 Property Tax Bill (at 5.293%): $7,510.77 (Based on the same $141,900 assessment).
- Net Annual Increase: $376.03
Current Camden County Tax Rankings
A 5.558% general tax rate places Gloucester City among the absolute highest tax rates in Camden County, and effectively puts it back at the very top of statewide lists tracking “highest overall rates.”
While affluent towns in North Jersey or Cherry Hill pay higher absolute dollar amounts because their homes are valued much higher, Gloucester City’s rate means residents pay a larger percentage of their home’s value into the tax system than almost anywhere else.
