It’s a phrase Cherry Hill residents have become very familiar with in recent years: There will be no increase in their municipal tax bill this year.
For the fourth consecutive year, Cherry Hill Council approved a budget including a flat municipal tax rate. Council unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2016 municipal budget at Wednesday’s meeting.
For Mayor Chuck Cahn, the passing of the budget was a huge moment. He talked of how one of his goals when he entered office in 2012 was to hold the line on taxes and still provide a high level of services for residents. He said the township has been able to achieve both goals four years in a row.
“I am tremendously proud of this budget,” he said.
Cahn reiterated many features of the budget he went over during the introduction in August. The biggest change was an increased focus on the township’s road maintenance program, something Cahn said residents have asked for recently.
“We’re doubling our investment on road maintenance to more than $8 million,” he said.
The township also allocated about $4.8 million to various upgrades at parks, playgrounds and sports courts. The township did not cut any services or jobs in this year’s budget.
All members of council spoke highly of the township’s financial team and praised Cahn for keeping taxes in check the last few years.
“We’ve had four straight years of no tax increases, and our services have actually improved in that time,” Councilman Brian Bauerle said.
Croft Farm field construction kicks off
Wednesday marked the beginning of a major project at Croft Farm. Cahn, Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young and members of council joined the Cherry Hill Soccer Club to break ground on two new athletic fields.
The fields will be located next to the gravel parking lot at Croft Farm. With multiple sports teams already using the fields for practice, the township decided to formalize the fields with a new playing surface, irrigation, drainage and electrical upgrades.
Township director of communications Bridget Palmer said the fields are expected to be ready for use in the fall of 2016.
Woodcrest Red volleyball honored at meeting
An adult volleyball team from Woodcrest Swim Club was the center of attention at the beginning of last night’s council meeting. The team was honored with a mayoral proclamation for winning the Cherry Hill Association of Pools Volleyball League during the summer.
Mike Kon, Alfred Arcaroli, Jeremy Gardner, Rob Kolmins, Boris Kon and Rob Spier, members of the Woodcrest Red volleyball team, were on hand to accept the proclamation. Their team won the championship on Aug. 8 with a 2–0 victory over Kingston.
