Mayor Bernie Platt offered his final thoughts on the 2012 budget before asking council to adopt the $64.5 million plan at the Sept. 26 council meeting.
Platt said he was proud to present his final budget, which includes a local tax levy, or the amount to be raised by taxpayers at $45.1 million.
“When I took office, this municipality was at a crossroads. Businesses were unsure of Cherry Hill’s 21st century landscape and on the fence about this town’s viability as a significant regional hub. My administration changed that attitude, by bringing more than $1 billion in new development to the township and supporting economic and development policies that brought back investor confidence,” Platt said.
“I will be leaving office knowing that fiscal responsibility won the day with a workforce that is 20 percent slimmer and working smarter.”
The tax levy is about a $400,000 increase from last year’s budget, township spokesman Dan Keashen said. But even with the increase, the budget remains well under the state-mandated 2 percent cap.
Currently, the average assessed home pays approximately $8,800 in total property taxes.
Residents with an average assessed home of $140,000 can expect to see an increase of about $14 on their next municipal tax bill, Keashen said.
Before council adopted the 2012 budget, members of the public were invited to comment and question the budget.
Numerous residents, including the Republican candidate for mayor, Stephen Buividas, and his three council running mates, Ann Madden Tufano, Maria Heckendorn and Dolores Kelly, asked council to consider a budget with no tax increase.
