Town Down $1 million In Tax Collection

The township is short about $1 million in tax revenue as a sluggish national economy is squeezing residents and making it difficult for a growing number to pay their property tax bills, officials said.

Theresa Vola, township tax collector, said the town’s collection rate – the percentage of all property owners who have paid their taxes -- is down about 1.3 percent through the first half of the year.

Vole said percentage point counts as roughly $1 million in uncollected taxes, she said.

“It concerns me because I haven’t seen it like this,” Vola said. “I’ve called other towns -- some are in a little bit better shape than we are; some are in a little worse shape than we are. “

Vola, speaking to the Township Committee at the governing body’s workshop session on Wednesday, said this year’s tax collection is worse than previous years.

“There’s a lot of people coming in and they cannot pay the bills, “ she said. “I see that the economy is worse, I think, than it was a year ago. People don’t have any savings left and they’re looking to anyone to loan them money.’’

Township Administrator Joe Verruni also expressed some concern.

“If we keep trending like that, it’s a real big number,’’ Verruni said.