Moorestown Council Approves $23.9 Million Budget With Tax Cuts

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown residents will see a tax cut this year after council unanimously passed its $23.9 million budget Monday night at town hall.

The owner of the average home assessed at $441,700 would pay $1,810.97 in taxes this year. The municipal portion is $1,638.71, a decrease of $8.83 from last year. The library portion remains steady at $172.26.

No services will be cut.

“I am proud that the budget passed tonight maintains our town’s stellar services while easing the tax burden on our residents,” Mayor Phil Garwood said. “Tax relief has always been the number one issue on the minds of our neighbors, and because of the hard work done by Town Council and Township staff, we are proud to deliver this victory for the Moorestown taxpayer.”

The township saw a $42,023 increase in revenues over 2015, along with a $225,000 expected decrease on surplus reliance. There was also an $82,000 increase in collections on delinquent taxes. The ratable base also increased by $29,177,698.

Capital improvement costs increase by $131,500, but is offset by a $115,000 decrease in group insurance rates.

Overall, the budget is up from last year by about $89,000. The township is $1.82 million below the state's tax cap.

Deputy Mayor Victoria Napolitano provided the lone dissenting vote in last year’s budget process because it included a 2 percent tax rate increase.

After Monday night’s 5-0 vote on this year’s budget, she told the public she was “proud to lower taxes.”

“This tax cut is being accomplished while maintaining a healthy surplus and keeping our bond rating the best in all of Burlington County,” Napolitano said. “Moorestown is positioned very favorably heading into the future, and I hope this shows our residents that our team is firmly committed to real tax relief.”

The Water and Sewer Utility Budget is $11,100,000, an increase of $1,919,000 over last year. The township spent $1.5 million above its contracted amount on water. The cost of the temporary treatment at the North Church Street Water Treatment Plant is listed at $488,500, with the capital improvement fund increasing from $50,000 to $800,000. Debt services increases to $295,000.

Resident Ed Bague praised the tax cuts, but reiterated his opposition to what he called some frivolous spending, specifically the proposed dog park.

“There are several improvements that need to be made at Strawbridge Lake,” Bague said, referring to a presentation Chet Dawson gave on the lake earlier in the meeting. “Is a dog park more important than that?”
He said it was more important to put that money into police and fire services, safe roads, water and the schools.

Council passed the budget after holding six public workshops. The Republican members of council said departments were urged to seek additional grant funding to allow progress to continue on key projects, which they said will help water and utility upgrades to take place without “any significant rate increases.”