FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLIFTON, NJ — Tafari Anderson, candidate for Clifton City Council, is calling for stronger transparency, clearer taxpayer protections, and direct public accountability as Clifton moves through its 2026 citywide property revaluation.
For homeowners, a revaluation is not an abstract administrative exercise. It affects the assessed value placed on the property they worked years to buy, maintain, and protect. While a revaluation does not itself determine the total amount of taxes collected by the City, it can redistribute the tax burden among property owners based on updated assessments. That makes accuracy, openness, and taxpayer access to information absolutely essential.
“Homeowners should never be left wondering what happened to the value placed on their property, how that value was calculated, or what they can do if the information is wrong,” Anderson said. “When government is making decisions that can affect a family’s largest financial asset, transparency is not optional. It is the minimum taxpayers deserve.”
Clifton’s citywide revaluation is underway, with property inspections beginning in March 2026 and continuing across the city. Anderson said residents should receive more than basic notices and scattered information. He is calling for a public revaluation dashboard that clearly shows the status of inspections, neighborhood-by-neighborhood progress, important deadlines, taxpayer information sessions, appeal procedures, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Anderson is also calling for a straightforward process for residents to identify and correct factual errors in property records before those errors affect an assessment. Incorrect square footage, property characteristics, classifications, or other factual information should be easy to report and promptly reviewed.
“A taxpayer should not have to become a real-estate appraiser, tax attorney, and private investigator just to understand what City Hall is doing,” Anderson said. “The government has the information. The government controls the process. Therefore, the government has the responsibility to explain that process in plain English.”
Anderson said Clifton should also publish clear examples explaining the difference between assessed value, market value, the municipal tax levy, and the final tax rate. Residents should understand that a higher assessment does not automatically mean their tax bill rises by the same percentage, while also understanding that revaluation can shift the relative tax burden from one property owner to another.
He is further calling for public meetings before final assessments are locked in, clear instructions on informal reviews and formal appeals, and regular progress reports to the City Council and the public.
“This is not about attacking the revaluation process,” Anderson said. “It is about making sure the process serves the people instead of intimidating them. Accuracy protects taxpayers. Transparency protects taxpayers. Clear appeal rights protect taxpayers. That is what responsible local government looks like.”
Anderson said the broader lesson is simple: when government takes action that can materially affect household finances, residents should know the rules, the timeline, the data being used, and the process available to challenge mistakes.
“My commitment is straightforward,” Anderson said. “No hidden process. No unnecessary confusion. No dismissing legitimate taxpayer concerns. Clifton homeowners deserve facts, access, accountability, and a fair opportunity to be heard.”
About Tafari Anderson
Tafari Anderson is a Clifton City Council candidate, technologist, entrepreneur, education leader, and community advocate. His campaign is focused on making Clifton safer, more affordable, more transparent, and better prepared for the future through disciplined budgeting, strong public safety, responsible development, modern infrastructure, and accountable local government.
Paid for by Friends for Tafari Anderson.
Research basis: City of Clifton 2026 Revaluation notices and presentation.