In October, Moorestown Township Council decided by a four-to-one vote that the surplus money from liquor license sales would be used for tax relief. This was met with some opposition by Councilman Greg Newcomer and some members of town, saying the decision wasn’t announced as an item to be discussed, and they felt that the town should have more input and notice. There was also some questioning on whether procedures were followed correctly.
In December, council decided to take another vote on the resolution after more complaints were made that procedures were not followed correctly and that there was not adequate notice about the resolution being made that evening. Council originally had the resolution listed on the Jan. 26 meeting agenda, but due to the snow, the meeting was changed to Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m.
The decision on using the surplus money for tax relief was finally unanimously approved by council on Jan. 30, with the exception of Councilman Phil Garwood, who was absent. However, once again, it wasn’t passed without some opposition, this time having to do with the wording of the resolution.
Roger L. Boyell, a 40-year resident of Moorestown and owner of his own business as an electronic analyst, was not satisfied with the wording of the resolution. He felt saying the money is being used for tax relief is quite vague and that council was trying to “buy taxpayer friendliness.” His biggest problem however was with the words, “the township’s surplus shall be used in all cases.” Having worked with writing and interpreting documents in the past, he felt those words were binding that the money be spent, of which he was not in support.
“The resolution doesn’t say what they’ll be spending it on and that it requires the surplus to be spent,” Boyell said.
“The purpose is to reaffirm our commitment to only using that money for purposes of tax relief and not use it for any unnecessary special project,” Mayor Victoria Napolitano said.
Township Manager Scott Carew said anytime the surplus money would be used, it would be for tax relief because that would be money that wouldn’t be coming out of the taxpayer’s pocket.
“Anytime we use surplus, that is money that doesn’t have to be raised in taxes. Therefore, logic dictates, anytime you use surplus for anything, you are not raising taxes; therefore, it is being used for tax relief,” Carew said.
Newcomer spoke up in defense of the resolution as well. He supported the idea from the beginning, however he wanted members of the town to have their input on what to do with the money. He especially pointed out that he liked that the resolution said, “if the surplus is to be used,” feeling they don’t need to spend it and can save it.
However, Boyell pointed out that later in the resolution it said the surplus “shall be used in all cases,” and he felt that was binding the hands of council to spend it.
Carew said it is not binding and doesn’t compel the council to use the surplus money; it is just in the case that surplus is being used.
“It says ‘shall be used in all cases,’ which I think would be interpreted to say ‘in all cases where it is used, it should be used for tax relief.’ It doesn’t require us to use the surplus,” Napolitano said.
Napolitano said council intends to keep the surplus intact as long as it can.
The next Moorestown Township Council meeting is Feb. 9 starting at 7 p.m. with a workshop at Town Hall.
