The Evesham Township Council reluctantly introduced the municipal budget at the June 25 meeting after no moves were made on state Senate bill 1896.
The township is currently working with a temporary budget based on the 2012 adopted budget.
The 2013 proposed budget was introduced to the council in March with a $59 per year tax increase on the average assessed home of $271,200 but there was never a formal adoption.
Mayor Randy Brown has been adamant about the bill moving through the Senate to avoid raising taxes for residents.
The tax levy increase stems from the township’s responsibility to pay more than $1.5 million in tax appeals.
The township receives 15 percent of tax dollars, but is required to pay 100 percent of the tax appeals, township manager Bill Cromie said in March.
If the township does not move to adopt the budget on the state’s timeline, someone will be sent in to determine a budget for the township, according to Bob Nehilla of Bowman Accounting Firm.
The state requires the budget to determine ratables. If they’re not determined, the township would not have the ability to collect taxes.
Additionally, the township could face problems when it comes to borrowing in the future if someone has to come in to take care of the budget.
“You’ve rallied around the state, and it’s fallen on deaf ears,” councilman Ken D’Andrea said.
According to Nehilla, the first to call would be the county.
“The Senate is naming roads, gestating pigs and our state aid is going in the other direction,” Brown said. “We have $3 million that should be spread to other entities. They wonder why we’re not jumping up and down on this.”
The proposed $32.8 million budget includes a spending decrease of $26,571 from 2012.
“We’ve got time, but statutorily we have to introduce. We were supposed to introduce in March, which is why I’m doing it,” Brown said. “It’s with extreme reluctance, council introduces the budget.”
In other news:
• The council honored Chief Michael Barth on his retirement from the police force.
“It’s a tough and thankless job, and if I had the power to tell you ‘no’ when it comes to your retirement, I would,” Brown said.
Barth began with the department in August 1989 and will be finishing his career on a high note, initiating numerous changes since his start 23 years ago.
He was responsible for approximately 100 officers, in addition to revamping the force.
Additionally, Barth has implemented the use of social media to apprehend suspects in ongoing cases in conjunction with anonymous texts, allowing residents to report crime in an up-to-date-fashion.
Currently, the Evesham Police Department is one of only nine police agencies in the state to have national accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, according to the police website.
“I think he’s done an amazing job,” Brown said.
According to Cromie, Capt. Christopher Chew, the department’s executive officer, will assume the acting chief’s position effective July 1.
The process to determine the next chief is ongoing.
• An ordinance protecting residents after a jewelry robbery was adopted on second reading.
The process implemented by the stores and police department will identify criminals who try to pawn the property.
When a piece of jewelry or property is pawned, the jewelry store copies the seller’s ID and drops the stacks of copies off to the police once a week, according to Angelo Breaux, owner of Family and Company Jewelers.
The new system will speed up the process, which will be a statewide, and eventual national, program in the future.
Breaux thanked the council for its work on the ordinance.
• Cherokee High School class of 2013 valedictorian Sarah Speight and salutatorian Martin John Costello were honored with proclamations from the township for their excellence in academics. Both will be attending The College of New Jersey in the fall to pursue degrees in finance.
• Villanova University athlete and Cherokee alumna Laura Sweeney was honored for capturing the Philadelphia Big-Five Scholar Athlete of the Year Award.
• The TOPSoccer program was recognized for its work with special needs children in the area. The program will be expanding to encompass additional sports, including cheerleading and baseball. Volunteers are needed as buddies for the upcoming fall season.
For more information, visit www.marltonreccouncil.org.
The next council meeting is scheduled for July 9 at 6:30 p.m.
