Cherry Hill council adopted its 2023 fiscal year budget on second reading at its meeting on Wednesday, a plan that has no tax rate increase for the 11th consecutive year.
For the average assessed home of $226,400, the annual municipal tax levy is about $1,215.77, the same as last year. The total municipal tax levy for this year is $43,009,122, a decrease from last year’s budget of about $37,000, or .09 percent.
“This budget does not increase municipal taxes while continuing to provide a high level of municipal services to our residents,” said Mayor Susan Shin Angulo. “It continues to fund road improvements, public safety, playground upgrades, historic property restoration, as well as property maintenance and preservation of open space.
“We feel strongly that these municipal services are an integral part of the quality of life in this community, essential to maintaining our property values and protecting our neighborhoods.”
Taking the tax for all entities into consideration – such as the school districts and library – the average resident will pay about $9,250.70 this year.
The budget is available for public viewing at https://bit.ly/3Nf1DHb.
Council also passed an ordinance on second reading establishing a cap bank, which, as Council President David Fleisher reiterated, does not mean the township has exceeded capacity for this year but is good practice and allows the township to roll over the amount it is under capacity into next year.
In other news, council recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a proclamation and commended the Side by Side Domestic Violence Response Team that works with the Cherry Hill and Haddonfield police departments, as well as the Camden County Women’s Center.
“Society benefits greatly from increased awareness of domestic violence issues,” the proclamation reads.
Though unable to attend in person, Side by Side submitted a statement in advance that thanked the council and township for their leadership and care of domestic violence victims.
“Cherry Hill is one of the only teams that continued 24/7 services throughout the pandemic and still is continuing to provide these services today,” the statement said.
The next council meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Caucus begins at 6:30.
