Mayor Randy Brown, with the unanimous support of council, will be freezing the township’s payments owed to the Evesham Township Board of Education, Lenape Regional High School District and the Evesham Township Fire District.
“If you like your money, you have to come sit down and have responsive meetings with us,” Brown said.
The decision was made based on the lack of support shown for state Senate bill 1896, which would make those entities responsible for tax appeal losses.
Brown is hopeful the move brings attention to the township’s “tax increase issue.” Brown is determined to make those entities discuss a possible resolution.
“I think the structure of which we’re asked to collect taxes is broken,” Brown said. “What I want to know is what they will do to help fix it.”
The council has tabled introducing the 2013 municipal budget numerous times, including at last week’s meeting.
The proposed budget includes a municipal tax increase of $59 per year for the average assessed home of $271,200.
“If we were to get wholly reimbursed, we wouldn’t have a tax increase,” Brown said.
Currently, the township has to pay out $1.5 million in tax appeals, according to Brown, and is working on a temporary budget based on the 2012 adopted budget.
If the township does not move to adopt the budget on the state’s timeline, someone will be sent in to determine a budget for the township, Bob Nehilla of Bowman Accounting Firm said at the June meeting.
According to Brown, the bill has not made any movement in the senate.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew has refused to create any committees to work on the bill, Brown said.
“There’s no reason he shouldn’t put this in committee,” Brown said.
Van Drew could not be reached for comment.
Brown isn’t concerned with possibly straining the township’s relationship with either boards of education or the fire district, citing current strong connections with all three.
“I can’t worry about a relationship. I need to do everything possible to make this township more affordable,” Brown said.
According to Evesham board of education president Sandy Student, the freeze has no immediate effect on payroll or the 2013–2014 budget in the short term, which has already passed and been approved.
“I think the mayor has a very valid issue. The goal of government is for the common good, and the common good is for all the citizens,” Student said.
According to Student, it will not cause the board of education to layoff any employees.
“The other thing we have to deal with is that the state does not give us a method to budget, save or refund money to the municipality for shortfall or refund,” Student said.
If the township cut the district off completely, it could potentially create problems in the long run.
Despite Brown’s confidence in the freeze, if it were to continue for a long period of time, “it would create tension,” Student said.
“We’re not in danger of laying off employees or closing schools because of the payment,” Student said. “We could not miss a September payment, though.”
“We’re taxing our taxpayers way too much,” Brown said. “My first responsibility is to the 50,000 residents of this town. Period.”
In other news:
Richard Hoff, attorney for the owners of Tri-Town Plaza, is fighting for the location to be included in the redevelopment plan.
According to Brown, the Tri-Town Plaza could benefit by doing its own repairs, rather than add it to the redevelopment program.
He noted the dilemma was a “difference of opinion” and could be solved without the assistance of the township.
Hoff said he would continue to fight the matter on behalf of his client.
The next township council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building.
