Why are property taxes rising in North Arlington and why is Mayor Pronti denying this fiscal reality?
Isn’t it time to elect Democrats and bring balance back to local municipal government in 2026?
Here’s a clear, fact-based explanation of why property taxes in North Arlington, NJ have been rising and why Mayor Daniel H. Pronti’s public statements downplay that reality — based on recent local reporting and official statements:
🧾 1. Property Taxes Are Rising — Not Just Perception
Property tax bills in North Arlington have increased over recent years, even if the municipal portion hasn’t always risen as sharply as other parts of your bill. Residents routinely see higher total bills year-to-year.
📊 2. Main Reasons for Rising Property Taxes
✅ A. Higher Property Assessments
Every few years the borough reassesses properties to reflect current market values. When your home’s assessed value goes up, even if the tax rate stays similar, your total tax bill rises correspondingly. This process alone can noticeably increase what homeowners pay.
North Arlington has a “rolling reassessment” program where a portion of properties is revalued each year.
✅ B. Municipal Budget Growth
While the mayor and council have sometimes reported keeping the municipal portion steady, the borough budget still grows to cover rising costs such as:
Salaries and benefits for police, public works and other essential services
Infrastructure projects
Capital improvements
New expenses due to development and service demand
These increases contribute — directly or indirectly — to the tax levy that must be collected from property owners.
🧠 3. What Mayor Pronti Has Said Publicly
Mayor Pronti and borough officials have at times emphasized that:
The municipal portion of the tax bill has not grown dramatically in certain past years.
The borough has a surplus and has tried to manage costs, including financial planning described in budget hearings.
Redevelopment and commercial growth are strategies to broaden the tax base rather than raise taxes dramatically on homeowners.
In mayoral communications (e.g., reorganization speeches and budget letters), Pronti has highlighted long-term comparisons or selective figures — such as referencing a point where municipal taxes were lower or stable compared to a historical baseline.
However, these statements can appear to downplay present cumulative increases because:
Different parts of the tax bill come from different governing bodies (municipal vs. school vs. county), and officials don’t always separate or clearly explain which portion is changing.
Emphasizing smaller or historical increases can contrast with the day-to-day experience of homeowners whose total tax bill has risen.
Local leaders may frame budgetary decisions as protective (e.g., claiming to keep increases “modest”) even when year-to-year totals go up.
🤔 4. Why This Leads to a Perception of Denial
Local critics and political opponents have charged that Borough leadership — including the mayor — minimizes the impact of tax increases by focusing on:
Historical comparisons rather than current year growth
The municipal portion rather than the total tax bill
The wording in newsletters or tax bill inserts suggesting the borough controls all parts of the bill (when school and county portions are separate)
This can make it sound like officials are denying taxes are rising, even though they are acknowledging certain pieces of the equation.
In some local opinion pieces, opponents go further — accusing leadership of ignoring fiscal realities or political accountability — but those are opinion-based, not official financial disclosures.
📌 Bottom Line
Property taxes in North Arlington have genuinely increased, driven by higher assessments, municipal spending needs, school district costs and county allocations.
Mayor Pronti has publicly emphasized fiscal stability and selective metrics, leading some residents to feel his messaging doesn’t fully reflect the overall tax burden increases.
The differences in perspective often come down to emphasis and which part of your tax bill is being discussed.
The North Arlington Mayor & Council is dominated by Republicans (7-0), and no Democrat has served on the governing body in seven years. Every municipal tax hike has been endorsed by Pronti and all six members of the Borough who are all Republican.
North Arlington has a monopoly of one-party government with no Democrats despite the fact there are more registered Democrats than Republicans. Moreover, Republicans now have their eyes on taking over the non-partisan Board of Education by running a ticket of candidates sponsored and backed by Mayor Dan Pronti.