Mayors Weekly Briefing 6/12/09

No increase in municipal taxes as flat levy is adopted by Township
Finding innovative ways to conserve resources, leveraging technology and sharing services, the Township’s proposed 2010 preliminary budget will allow us to preserve essential services without increasing the municipal tax levy. In these difficult economic times, the last thing Council and I want to do is add to the pressure being felt by struggling residents – that’s why a flat preliminary levy for the fiscal year, beginning July 1, was unanimously approved on June 8.

This budget means an averaged assessed home’s municipal tax would stay at 84 cents per $100 in assessed property value – maintaining our rank as Camden County’s best place to live at the lowest tax rate. This was a result of layoffs, consolidating departments, wage freezes from the top down, and increasing health-care premiums while bringing the employee prescription plan in-house. While we’re pleased to have achieved a flat levy for the first two quarters of the 2010 fiscal year, we will continue to look ahead and chart a new course of fiscal responsibility through what will be a prolonged national economic recovery.

As always, I welcome your constructive suggestions for revenue generation or cost savings- feel free to email me at MayorPlatt@CHTownship.com or call at (856) 488-7878.

To read more about the new tax levy click here: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090609 /NEWS01/906090346/-1/towns01/Cherry-Hill-holds-tax-rate.

NYC station WCBS spotlights Cherry Hill’s stance on sex offenders
My fight to keep sex offenders from living near places children gather did not end with the recent Supreme Court ruling that shot down the sex-offender-free zones we established in town several years ago. In fact, the ruling underscored the need for a state solution that significantly strengthens Megan’s Law. A new bill, co-sponsored by our District Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt, would give municipalities the option to ban the most serious tier of sex offenders from living near a school, playground or child-care center, similar to statewide residency limits elsewhere in the country.

This legislation is now being considered by the Assembly, with an identical bill being considered in the Senate. I will continue to keep you posted on this important issue. To hear a more detailed report on the proposed bill, as well as my stance on protecting our kids from sexual predators, see the following news video that aired on New York City station WCBS this week spotlighting this battle from the vantage point of Cherry Hill: http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=128853@wcbs.dayport.com.

Deadlines for Senior Freeze & Homestead Rebate extended to Aug. 17
The deadline for New Jersey’s senior and disabled homeowners to file 2008 Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) or Homestead Rebate applications has been extended to Aug. 17, 2009. The previous deadline for filing 2008 applications for both programs was June 1. An additional 39,000 senior and disabled New Jersey residents were informed this year that they could now be eligible for property tax reimbursement checks averaging up to $337 under the Senior Freeze Program. Under the law, income limits for the program have been significantly increased, beginning with the 2007 tax year, meaning that residents who previously did not qualify because their income was too high could now be eligible for a reimbursement.

For more information on the 2008 Senior Freeze Program, or to obtain an application, contact the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at (800) 882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information about the Senior Freeze Program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site:
www.state.nj.us/tr easury/taxation/propfrez.shtml.

Homeowners who are 65 and older or disabled and have received a Homestead Rebate application but have not yet filed, can do so by phone by calling (877) 658-2972, or they can file online through the Division of Taxation’s Web site at: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxatio n/.

U.S. Digital TV conversion to take place this weekend
By the time we wake up this Saturday morning, U.S. broadcasters will have shut down outdated analog transmitters, leaving static to watch for those who are not ready. The transition to digital TV was extended several times by the federal government in order to give folks more time to prepare, but, as of 12:01 a.m. on June 13, time is up. People who already pay for cable or satellite TV service are unaffected by the change; but for those who wish to keep using their analog TV sets with the aid of a converter box, or simply haven’t transitioned to this new era of broadcasting yet, help is still available by calling  (888) CALL-FCC.

Township Recreation Dept.’s Morning Fun Camps start soon
Don’t miss out on the opportunity for your child to have a summer of fun and games at a reduced cost. Cherry Hill’s annual Morning Fun Camp exists so your child can enjoy various games and activities while having the chance to work on a camp project specific to each “Camp” site, which will be judged at the end of the season. Registration is going on right now. Stop by the Recreation office, Room 102 in Town Hall, or call (856) 488-7868 for more information. A late fee of $100 will be adding to the registration fees of anyone who signs up past the June 22 deadline.


For up-to-the-minute updates on any subject, call my office at 856.488.7878 or visit our municipal Web site: www.CherryHill-NJ.com .

Sincerely,

Bernie Platt
Mayor