Bloomfield's New Sewer User Fee: How the Shift from Property Taxes to a Water Bill Works

Bloomfield changed how it collects sewer money this year, and the change is still making waves heading into the November election. On July 1, 2026, the township replaced the flat sewer charge that was folded into property taxes with a new sewer user fee that shows up on quarterly water and sewer bills, and critics, including two council members and thousands of seniors, say it works like a new tax. Here is how the fee works, who it helps, and what it means for homeowners and buyers.

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What changed

The Town Council approved the ordinance, which amends Chapter 454 of the township code by adding Article IV establishing sewer service charges, on June 22, 2026 by a 5-2 vote, and it took effect July 1. Instead of paying for sewers through property taxes, residents now pay a fee that combines a fixed base charge with a consumption-based charge tied to water usage, and it appears on the quarterly water and sewer bill. The first bills went out in July with no proration and no double billing, because the sewer cost was removed from property taxes at the same time.

The township frames the change as a reallocation of existing costs, not a new tax. Under the old system, residents covered about 78 percent of the roughly $5.15 million in annual sewer costs through property taxes. The new fee shifts that share down to about 37 percent, with the township covering more of the system's cost through other revenue. About $3 million of the total moved to the new fee first, with the rest staying in property taxes during a transition period.

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What it means for your bills

The typical Bloomfield household had been paying about $211 a year for sewer through property taxes. The township says roughly 98 percent of households will pay less under the new fee, because most homes use less water than the old flat charge assumed. That is the headline, and it is worth taking seriously: for a typical owner, the property tax bill should come down by roughly the old sewer amount.

The catch is how the money moves. Sewer costs that used to sit inside your property tax bill, which is spread across the year and eligible for property tax relief programs, now arrive as a separate utility-style charge tied to how much water your household actually uses. For a family with heavy water use, a pool, irrigation, or a large household, the fee can run higher than the old flat charge. And because the rate is set in the ordinance, any future increase requires a public ordinance-amendment vote, which is a real safeguard but also means the fee is not capped by anything automatic.

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Who is pushing back

The two council members who voted no, including Councilwoman Tracy Toler-Phillips, cited seniors, renters, and small businesses as the groups most exposed. About 7,300 Bloomfield seniors live on fixed incomes, and the fee shift erodes the property-tax-based relief many of them rely on, including the Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze programs, because those programs are tied to property taxes, not utility bills. A Change.org petition, "Amend Bloomfield NJ Sewer Fee Ordinance for Senior Support," has been circulating with hundreds of signatures, and Toler-Phillips posted updates on it as recently as August 6.

Renters feel the change too, because landlords can pass the fee through in rent, and small businesses with heavy water use can see a bigger bill. The ordinance does exempt 100 percent disabled veterans and 100 percent deed-restricted affordable housing properties. Montclair Local's October 10 coverage of Bloomfield's local politics named the sewer fee, alongside the Watsessing corner closure, as one of the flashpoints animating the town heading into the November 3 election.

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What it means for homeowners and buyers

• Carrying costs are shifting, not disappearing. If you are buying, ask for the seller's recent water and sewer bills, not just the property tax bill. The fee is usage-based, so two similar homes can have very different sewer costs depending on household size and water habits.
• Property tax relief math changed for some owners. Seniors and others who lean on ANCHOR, Stay NJ, or Senior Freeze should check how the shift affects their relief, since those programs are tied to property taxes. This is a real consideration for anyone advising an older relative in Bloomfield.
• It is a live political issue. The fee is a campaign topic in the November 3 election, and the petition to amend it for senior support is still circulating. If the next council revisits the ordinance, the structure and the rate could change.
• For sellers, be ready for questions. Buyers doing their homework will ask about the fee. Having your water and sewer bills handy, and knowing what your household actually pays, makes the disclosure conversation easier and more honest.

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The bottom line

Bloomfield's sewer fee is a real change to how homeownership costs work in the township: most households should see their property tax bill drop by roughly what they used to pay for sewers, but the money now comes back as a usage-based charge on the water bill, and the trade-offs are landing hardest on seniors, renters, and water-heavy households. It is not a settled issue, and the November election is the next chance for residents to weigh in on how the town collects for its infrastructure.

If you are buying or selling in Bloomfield and want to understand how the sewer fee, the 12 percent municipal tax increase, and the school budget fit together, I am happy to walk you through it. No pressure, just honest local guidance.