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FLEMINGTON The county Board of Taxation hasnt gotten anywhere near its attempt to hire a full-time tax administrator for a salary of $35,000.

According to board President Anthony Danzo, two qualified candidates responded to its recent advertising. One sought $65,000 a year. The other, Jeff Burd, current assessor in Ewing Township in Mercer County, apparently misread the ad, thinking it offered a salary of $135,000. Once the pay was clarified, he wasn't interested, Danzo reported.

Bergen Countys tax administrator was paid $153,392 last year, according to the state Division of Taxation. Of the 21 county administrators, nine were paid more than $100,000 last year, the state reported.

The countys desire to pay $35,000 is based on that amount being set in a state law about tax administrators and is the minimum Hunterdon can pay, based on its population. The figure was set in 1979 and has never been raised; the tax board believes it must offer a competitive salary to attract good candidates.

Hunterdon tax administrator Athan Tom Efstathiou, who died last August while attending a professional conference, had a 2011 salary of $92,392. He was the tax administrator since 1994.

Freeholder Director Rob Walton has said Efstathiou was paid too much, and that the county only needs a part-time tax administrator.

Assemblywoman Donna Simon, who lives in Readington Township, is drafting legislation that would give county officials the freedom to decide whether a part-time administrator could sufficiently meet the needs of their constituents. At present, state law mandates a full-time tax administrator.

Walton has said the county would like to share a tax administrator with another county. State Sen. Mike Doherty has drafted a bill to change the law to allow that.

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Hunterdon tax administrator job pays $100,000 less than candidate thought