ROCKAWAY TWP. (12/29/05) – The other shoe dropped Tuesday night when the Township Council rejected a request from Christ Church of Montclair for a property tax exemption for its 107 acre site on Green Pond Road.

Their action sets the stage for another controversial confrontation with the church leaders who have been before the township planning board for two years presenting their plans for a mega church for its 5,000 member congregation. Their plans call for a church building that would have a sanctuary to seat some 2,500, a K-5 grade school and recreation facilities.

The township tax assessor, Mark Burek, told the council that the church should receive a partial tax exemption because it is only using a small portion of the area.

Church spokesman Mark Weinstein said the matter will be reviewed to determine a course of action by the church, which could include an appeal.

Burek cited a state law in a letter to church attorney Wendy Berger earlier this month which stated, "only those areas that are actually aand reasonably necessary for the exempt purpose should be exempted from taxation.

Weinstein said he disagreed with Burek’s ruling, which, he said, if upheld would cost the church several hundred thousand dollars in property taxes next year.

Burek said the total value of the property was $214,762,500 and he assessed for tax purposes, $10,914,200 and the assessment on the exempted portion would be $3,848,300.

Agilent Technologies paid $717,497 in 2005.

The Church did not contest and paid $190,000 last month to cover the fourth quarter tax period.