Mayor’s Message: Bernie Platt
I recently introduced my final budget document to Town Council, one I hope will pave the way for a long line of sustainable and solvent years to come for the township and the taxpayers. After a more than 40-year career in public service, this budget funds all of our essential services while bringing us back to one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Camden County. I have dedicated my life to public service and this township. This budget is the culmination of years of hard work and represents my vision for the spine of South Jersey.
Even with a slight uptick in the local levy, of less than one percent, we are working on a $64 million roadmap that is the result of fiscally-responsible decision making and innovative public policy. Before I go any further, I think it is important to point out that the budget is well below the new 2 percent municipal cap and that the municipal portion of the tax bill has contracted even further to approximately 14 percent of the total tax bill. For a full breakdown, go to www.cherryhill-nj.com/newfaq.asp.
Over the last four years we’ve navigated the rough seas of the economic crisis and streamlined our work force, building a strong foundation that combines cuts in expenses with new forms of revenue to create a strong future. Working together with Town Council, we have realized the benefits of long-term planning, which has paid big dividends for the taxpayer. In a quick snapshot, the new trash contracts, solar panel installation and energy efficiency upgrades have netted the township approximately $1 million in savings.
In other good news, the township just made its first sale of the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) commodity, a byproduct of our solar panel project. The sale netted the residents more than $36,000 in the electricity market and will continue to be a new stream of revenue for years to come. And speaking of revenue, the township’s recycling program continues to make recordbreaking strides, creating statewide recognition with its ongoing success. Recycling both generates revenue and saves money by diverting trash out of our solid-waste stream, saving $65 on every ton not sent to the landfill. To provide you context on the issue, four years ago we sent 27,000 tons of waste to the landfill; this year we will send less than 20,000. That’s a savings of $455,000 to our community annually.
Meanwhile, the township has taken advantage of the deregulated electrical marketplace and aggressively bid out our energy provider to secure a lower rate than the traditional utility, saving us more than $54,000 thus far this year.
These examples go to show that going green really does make more “cents,” as in dollars and cents saved for the taxpayer. These are just a few examples of how Cherry Hill is staying above the tough economic waters in a bad economy and not sinking like other municipalities in the tri-county area. These improvements have accompanied a 20-percent reduction in the overall township workforce, going from 351 in 2006 to 291 in 2011; an expansion of police coverage in the township with a switch to a 12-hour shift schedule; and an expansion of service hours in Town Hall. These enhancements come when other government entities are cutting service and raising taxes. Furthermore, we entered into aggressive contract negotiations with all of our bargaining units and secured concessions for the taxpayer and reality-based contracts for years to come.
Purpose is more important than popularity when it comes to public policy and that is a guiding principle for the governing body when it crafts a budget. Unlike the folks in Trenton, Town Council and I have always looked toward the future when it comes to making financially prudent decisions and long-term investments that enhance our infrastructure. This means the absence of one-shot gimmicks in the budget process and a commitment to the community that makes Cherry Hill a special place to live.
That said, some of the cost drivers from Trenton still provide a fiscal challenge. This year Town Hall was struck with a $700,000 increase in our pension payment, the drag of a bad economy that brought our overall ratable base down, and the increased cost of things like gasoline. Nevertheless, we continue to persevere by finding new cost savings and streams of revenue to offset most of these expenses.
Regardless of who sits in the mayor’s office, there will always be problems that are pushed down to the local level from Trenton. The management of the state’s pension system, as I have said many times before, has been criminal throughout the last 20 years and will be an ongoing challenge for local government and taxpayers for years to come. Like many other things that go on under the Golden Dome, towns like Cherry Hill bear the brunt of bad policy and decision making.
Moving forward, Cherry Hill will be in a position to preserve our special quality of life and continue to be one of the best places to live in New Jersey. And, you do not need to take my word for it; New Jersey Monthly magazine has again bestowed that honor on our township, which can be read at http://njmonthly.com.
Over the course of the last 10 years, we have found a safe port for the taxpayers. The economic environment has been rocky, but my administration has persisted and kept improving and enhancing this township. The budget document that I have introduced to Town Council is a culmination of hard work by my staff and, I believe, a sustainable way forward for many years to come.
