Tina Coolidge
1. What are your opinions regarding recent municipal budgets and property tax rates in Tabernacle?
Talking about the current budget fiasco is akin to talking about the research paper that never gets written. After more than five months of deliberation and pencil sharpening, township committee, under the leadership of Mayor Lee, still hasn’t adopted a budget and now is past the state deadline to approve the budget.
I can only reiterate the pledge my running mate and I have had to turn the budget process into a long-term procedure, in which we endeavor to determine what our spending needs are now, and what we can reasonably expect them to be in future years. Following this procedure, we do everything possible to avoid a sudden, lump sum increase in the tax levy and the tax rate — which we are facing now. (To be exact, as of May 10, a four-cent jump.)
In fairness, the township has had its share of challenges. For example, a reassessment of the entire community resulted in a major reduction in ratables and a corresponding increase in the tax rate in 2014. In addition, the fire district was eliminated as a separate taxing authority, and fire company expenses now come under the township budget umbrella.
But those issues now are history. It’s time to do some budget planning that looks into the future, assesses the challenges ahead, and considers future cost-savings and revenue enhancements that need to be explored or re-evaluated.
2. How do you plan to go about bringing in new revenue in the township to help bolster the budget?
My running mate and I have already pledged — if elected — not to accept the salary currently available to members of Township Committee. This speaks not just to the dollar savings, but symbolically to the importance of shared sacrifice, especially when budget proposals (like the current one) could impact the livelihood of loyal township workers.
Second, while I know the pursuit of cost-saving shared services is continual, I believe the township also needs to reevaluate or consider the future purchases of more goods and services through aggregate arrangements with the county and other municipalities. As every household knows, bulk purchasing speaks to the economy of scale.
Third, the educator in me is also thinking in terms of grants that may be available to fund township projects or programs. The township has been a recipient of recreational grant dollars and community development grants through the county. I believe we need to explore other grant opportunities through our county, state and federal representatives.
Stephen Lee
1.) What are your opinions regarding recent municipal budgets and property tax rates in Tabernacle?
Historically, the Republican-led Tabernacle Township Committee has kept the tax rate flat, with only four increases since 2007. Since I was first elected to committee, I have always kept this as one of my top priorities. In creating any budget, there needs to be a balance between keeping the tax rate down and continuing the level of service to our residents. The 2016 municipal budget process was the most comprehensive, detailed, public discussion of a budget in recent memory. At the conclusion of this very public process, we introduced a budget that was responsible and meets our needs for 2016 and beyond. If elected, I will ensure this practice serves as a benchmark for future budget discussions. In addition, I have been working with interim Tabernacle School Superintendent Dr. John Sherry to re-initiate the Board of Education/Tabernacle Township Liaison Committee to jointly work on projects and improve the communication between the governing bodies. This will help us during the budget process to have a clear understanding of our financial stability as a community.
2.) How do you plan to go about bringing in new revenue to the township to help bolster this budget?
The abandoned property ordinance enforcement has provided us with a revenue source that is steadily increasing. This took months of effort from the current committee members and our solicitor, Pete Lange. Because of this ordinance, which levies fines and allows for a removal process of abandoned, unsafe structures in our neighborhoods, it has forced absentee owners to take responsibility for their properties. Also, the current committee is discussing liquidating assets such as some small vacant land parcels and surplus public works equipment that is no longer in use. As mayor, I have begun informal discussions with neighboring elected officials regarding consolidation and/or shared service agreements. Shared services for small, rural towns like Tabernacle will become more important as costs increase to operate the municipality. Budgets aren’t “fixed” with new revenue. Budgets are properly managed by controlling municipal spending, properly forecasting for the future, and maintaining transparency so the residents understand where their hard-earned tax dollars are being utilized.
Jason Litowitz
1. What are your opinions regarding recent municipal budgets and property tax rates in Tabernacle?
As of this writing, the township still does not have an approved budget and probably won’t have one until the end of May at the earliest. That in and of itself says something not just about taxes and spending, but about “process.” State law requires that a budget be adopted by April 22. But at the April 25 budget hearing, Mayor Lee declined to even call for a vote on the budget proposal.
The budget, as introduced, calls for the largest increase in the tax rate (4 cents) in recent years, which was estimated at about $106 for the average homeowner. The budget also deferred $160,000 in school taxes and would defund part-time personnel.
My running mate and I stated our position in our platform in very simple terms: budget responsibly and develop a long-range fiscal plan. Better planning wouldn’t have put us in this situation. Our town needs a budget plan that addresses not only our present needs, but projects what we will face over the years to come. This would enable us to avoid a hefty tax increase in any one year.
As I write this, there is a proposed amendment to the budget which would utilize more of the township’s dwindling surplus, require fire and rescue squads to pay for their own fuel, and make other cuts in order to achieve a tax increase of two cents, instead of the aforementioned four. This will be the eight or ninth version of a budget which has been bandied about since January. There is simply no reason other than Mayor Lee’s poor leadership that it has taken this long.
2. How do you plan to go about bringing in new revenue in the township to help bolster the budget?
Another plank in the platform my running mate and I have put forth addresses the need to partner with our business community. New and expanding businesses not only bring services and jobs to our town — they bring ratables, which is a valuable source of additional revenue. Businesses face particularly difficult regulatory, environmental and logistical challenges in a Pinelands community. Our businessmen and women need a township committee that doesn’t ignore them, but actively communicates with them and supports them.
There’s no question that new revenue sources are a particularly difficult challenge in a community of 7,000 people. Therefore, I also believe more creative ways of saving money should be considered before depleting our surplus and increasing taxes. For example the Tabernacle School District has publicly mentioned offering to handle the sewage output from Town Hall. This would be particularly helpful to the schools’ maintaining its treatment system in the summer when school building use is at a minimum. The township would likely pay less to the school system than it currently spends on its own system maintenance. In other words, we’re talking less expense for the township and new revenue for the schools. A win-win for all.
