This year Evesham has two open seats for Evesham Township Council.
Every week, The Sun will ask candidates in the Nov. 8 election for council seats to respond to questions pertinent to local issues. This week’s questions:
- What are your feelings on Evesham Township potentially dissolving the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority and creating a department under the control of the township for water and wastewater management?
- What are your feelings regarding recent municipal budgets, expenditures and municipal property tax rates in Evesham?
1.) What are your feelings on Evesham Township potentially dissolving the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority and creating a department under the control of the township for water and wastewater management?
The state of New Jersey asked all townships that had independent authorities to review the merits of maintaining duplicate layers of government. We took that question very seriously and considered all options.
The Evesham Township Council continues to be a resource steward of the residents. We continually look for ways to improve processes and create synergies to reduce expenses while maintaining quality. Given that we have done a diligent job in controlling taxes on the municipal side, we wanted to replicate our performance improvement concept and apply it to the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority. Earlier in the year, we authorized a state-level study to examine the financial controls and the functions of the authority. Thanks to that study, internal recommendations have helped the EMUA optimize its operations, potentially saving ratepayers approximately $1 million and continue to allow this independent authority to deliver clean and safe water to more than 95 percent of the residents in our community. We no longer see the need to change the operational status of the organization.
2.) What are your feelings regarding recent municipal budgets, expenditures and municipal property tax rates in Evesham?
Our goal continues to be to control our municipal taxes without reducing services. When you examine our budget on a per capita basis (expenditures per resident), we are one of the lowest not only in Burlington County but also among similarly sized communities in the region.
In addition, we have been judicious and diligent with our expenses, allowing us to reduce your municipal taxes over the last three years.
However, there is more to the story. We have been able to cut taxes while enhancing services. From award-winning parks and recreation facilities to a nationally recognized and accredited police department to police body cameras to reducing DUIs with our Evesham Saving Lives initiative to police officers in our schools to an exceptionally strong bond rating to a positive outlook status by Standard and Poor’s rating system to improved customer service and communications portals to a healthy surplus of $4.5 million allowing the township to respond to emergency situations, we have performed. We will continue to make this township a great place to live and raise a family.
1.) What are your feelings on Evesham Township potentially dissolving the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority and creating a department under the control of the township for water and wastewater management?
We strongly believe that politics and profit should not have control over our local water and sewer services. We were inspired to run for office this year in part because of the current council’s attempt to take over the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority.
We strongly oppose the township’s attempts to take over the EMUA because it would erase the division between the township’s finances and residents’ water and sewer bills. A takeover would put the responsibility of managing our township’s expansive water and sewer infrastructure under the control of politicians and potentially pit it against the priorities of other municipal departments and services. A takeover would also make it incredibly easy for council to privatize our water and sewer services in the future, thanks to 2014 legislation signed by Gov. Christie.
That’s why, going back to October of last year, Philip Warren worked hard to inform the public about the EMUA and the benefits and costs of a potential takeover. Phil documented his research on his Move Evesham Forward blog and on local social media sites and testified at a hearing of the New Jersey Local Finance Board when it was examining the township’s proposal. John Bravo jumped on board when he heard about the township’s takeover, signing the petition and becoming a local voice against any takeover attempt.
Finally, Philip, along with other residents, organized and collected around 2,000 signatures for the “Save the MUA” petition, which would force a public referendum vote if council ever did decide to dissolve and take over the EMUA, which could happen again next year if our opponents are re-elected.
2.) What are your feelings regarding recent municipal budgets, expenditures and municipal property tax rates in Evesham?
We acknowledge that the township has kept the municipal property tax rate down. We give credit to the fine professionals in our township government who crunch the numbers, keep spending down, and pursue grants and other various forms of revenue for our town. We also give credit to our town’s unique position — we are the largest municipality in Burlington County with two major highways running through, and we are in close proximity to the Turnpike, I-295 and Philadelphia. Our town is in an advantageous location and situation and should be prospering.
We can keep tax rates down by aggressively pursuing redevelopment with modern policies that encourage long-term and sustainable development of our town. Progressive and forward-thinking policies such as form-based zoning for redevelopment properties and to reduce costly sprawl; creating a set of green and smart growth benchmarks for developers to meet before receiving any tax abatements or incentives; and investing in our infrastructure will save taxpayer dollars down the road. We should also explore reducing zoning and planning fees for small businesses and entrepreneurs to encourage more growth. If we properly redevelop now (and with meaningful community input) we will put our township on a stronger financial footing in the future.
One criticism we do have of council, in regard to spending, is its apparent lack of interest in the details. Many times for the past few years, we have witnessed council passing ordinances and resolutions that spend millions of dollars with few, if any, questions or comments about the proposed spending.
If elected, we will be the budgetary watchdogs that our township needs — not to say “no” to everything, but to ensure that spending is being done as responsibly as possible.
1.) What are your feelings on Evesham Township potentially dissolving the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority and creating a department under the control of the township for water and wastewater management?
The study for the possible integration of the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority into a department of the township has already yielded many benefits, savings and efficiencies. There is now ample information for all the participants in this study to speak with one voice and chart the best course for Evesham Township, its ratepayers and taxpayers.
2.) What are your feelings regarding recent municipal budgets, expenditures and municipal property tax rates in Evesham?
Having reduced municipal taxes over the last three years, it is demonstrated that fiscal responsibility and discipline produce quantifiable results. We will confront our present and future budget challenges with diligent stewardship of township resources and a constant plan to monitor and prepare for possible increasing operating costs.
