Mayor expects tax cut
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
9/25/2009

Residents will likely be seeing their tax bills going down this upcoming winter and spring, said Mayor Bernie Platt, as the township council accepted the first introduction of the 2010 municipal budget. Because of prior cuts and reductions in spending, Platt reported that the tax rate in Cherry Hill could be reduced.

The average taxpayer in the township with a $140,000 home could see a decrease in their winter and spring tax bills by about $52, Platt said. The tax rate could decrease by about 3 cents, from 85 to 82 cents per every $100 of assessed property value.

“Tonight, I will introduce our budget blueprint to town council. This outline shows a significant reduction in spending and a reduction in the tax rate. My administration has made sure Cherry Hill remains the best place to live at the lowest possible cost,” Platt said. “These budget measures were made with a steady hand and clear head. They were made through a variety of innovative ideas and a combination of cuts.”

The tax rate will keep Cherry Hill as the municipality with the lowest rate in Camden County, Platt said.

The tax cut, Platt said, was made possible by some difficult decisions the township council and his administration had to make dating back to last year. Township departments were consolidated, premium sharing for medical benefits throughout the union ranks were implemented, and layoffs were made to limit costs.

Using federal funds, Platt said the township will be replacing its 35-year-old HVAC system at town hall, which should save the township about $36,000 annually on energy use. Similarly, the township will be installing a solar-powered panel system on top of the township building.

The solar panel system will be installed with federal funds and will bring about $56,000 into the township each year, Platt said.

Even though the township has faced the issue head on, Platt said the job is not finished and more work has to be done in the near future.

“I don’t have to tell the people of Cherry Hill that these are unprecedented times – they already know that. What I want our community to know is that we made the right decisions to lessen the financial load on them during these dark times,” he said. “We’ve listened to residents and worked hard to garner economic security here at town hall. Nevertheless, we still have more challenges to face, as all towns do.”

Phil Guerreri, township resident, asked council when members of the public would be able to see the budget in its entirety. Residents were only able to see last year’s completed budget after its final adoption, he said, which was very late in the year. “You also mention that we’ll be seeing a $52 reduction in our tax bills in winter and spring,” he said. “But what about the next two quarters?”

Steve Polansky, council president, said the township administration heeded the call to reduce costs and identify programs that could be cut. The township is still looking for areas to save funding, he said.

“They’ve done a tremendous job identifying every single penny that could be saved,” he said. “The department heads heeded the call. They helped identify areas where we could save money.”