Moorestown Resident Thanks Council For Holding Line On Taxes

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown resident Mark Hines is thanking members of council for their commitment to a zero tax increase for the coming year. Council introduced the proposed $26,480,000 that carries no tax increase Monday night. His letter to the editor can be found below:

To the Editor:

I want to thank and commend Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie and the entire Moorestown town council for committing to a zero municipal tax increase for 2020. Along with the Burlington County Freeholders commitment to a zero-tax increase in May, this will offer great relief to taxpayers during this challenging year.

Enacting a zero-tax increase has not been an easy achievement for Moorestown. 2020 is a challenging year for Moorestown Township. Revenue is down nearly one quarter million dollars from COVID related restrictions, and the township was hit with a $160,000 increase in the sanitation contract.

Plus, in 2017 and 2018, our township settled with PREIT, the owner of the Moorestown Mall for property tax reimbursements of over $4.6 million dollars, further straining our budget. But the Moorestown Town Council recognized the difficult times for taxpayers.

Last December, I met with Ms. Gillespie and Lisa Petriello, at one of their citizens “listening sessions,” when Ms. Petriello was Mayor and Ms. Gillespie was Deputy Mayor. I asked that they work to hold the line on municipal taxes. Despite these difficult circumstances, they did.

I am pleased that we have an accessible and responsive town council working for us in Moorestown. Thank you!

Mark Hines

Read more here: No Tax Increase In Moorestown's Proposed Budget Amid Pandemic