West Deptford Committee Suspends Open Space Tax for 2011

At least one portion of the local property tax bill is going down this year.

The West Deptford committee passed a resolution Thursday night to suspend a two-cent property tax designated to go toward open space, citing a substantial balance in the current open space fund and a dearth of property available for preservation this year.

Deputy mayor Len Daws the township has approached several landowners in spots where the township is interested in preserving farmland or other open space, but lately, no one’s been interested in selling.

“Nobody’s in the market,” Daws said. “We’re not looking at this point to purchase any other major tracts of ground.”

And, thanks to county and state programs that have superseded the township’s open space preservation, West Deptford hasn’t had to spend much out of its own open space fund, which now stands at nearly $1 million, Daws said.

A pair of open space bond referenda gave the township the option of imposing the two-cent tax, but the tax isn’t mandatory, solicitor Michael Angelini added.

Mayor Anna Docimo said current economic conditions were also a factor in the decision.

“We figured it would be wise to not have to burden residents with this extra tax,” she said.