Multiple residents praised the township’s efforts to maintain services and keep taxes flat at Wednesday’s meeting.
Cherry Hill Township’s streak of keeping the municipal tax rate flat for residents will continue for another year.
Town Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2017 municipal budget at a special meeting on Wednesday night. For the fifth consecutive year, township residents will have no increase in their municipal taxes.
The municipal budget totals approximately $69.3 million, an approximately $1.8 million increase from the previous year. Cherry Hill Township had a big boost in ratables in the past year, with ratables increasing approximately $35 million.
Mayor Chuck Cahn praised the budget for its continued support of township services while keeping municipal taxes flat.
“We are investing significantly in important infrastructure, including our roads, our sewer, our recreational facilities and our open space,” Cahn said.
More than a dozen township residents spoke during the public hearing of the budget, with nearly all of them praising the work of the township.
John Dioszeghy, a resident for more than 40 years, was thrilled to hear his taxes would be staying flat for a fifth consecutive year. What impresses him the most was what he described as the consistency of township services such as trash collection, road repavement and snow removal.
“When it snows around here, you can see the brine on the road,” Dioszeghy said. “Then 24 hours after it snows, there’s a truck going down Maine Avenue.”
Beth Beatty, co-chair of Friends of Barclay Farmstead, said the township’s support of historical properties in recent years has created a sense of pride in the township.
“These are the things that really enhance the day-to-day life,” Beatty said. “It gives all of us residents an emotional connection to the community.”
Resident Denise Donald praised the township’s attention when it came to recreation facilities, citing the opening of new pickleball courts at Lions Den Park this summer as an example of its commitment to municipal parks.
“(Recreation director Megan Brown) and the entire recreation department has been on point every step of the way,” Donald said.
Old Orchard resident Mike Watson echoed Cahn’s statements about the township growing, saying he is constantly seeing new residents move into his neighborhood.
“On almost a monthly basis, you see a new family you’ve never seen before,” Watson said.
Dan Butler, Cherry Hill High School West boys soccer head coach, said he was thrilled with the township’s decision to partner with the board of education and install turf fields at both high schools.
“I think you’re putting education at the forefront of matters,” Butler said.
Resident Rena Margulis questioned a couple items in the budget. She asked how much the township had budgeted for litigation for next year. In response, Township Solicitor Robert Wright said the township budgeted $400,000 under the line item for anticipated legal expenses.
Margulis also asked why the township was adding a full-time employee under land use administration. Cahn said during the budget process, township director of community development Paul Stridick gave a presentation along with other department heads and there was a need for another employee in the department.
The township did make some small amendments to the budget prior to its final adoption. The changes reflected updated state-mandated pension fund amounts that were not available from the state prior to the first reading of the budget.
More information on the adopted Fiscal Year 2017 budget is available at www.cherryhill-nj.com.
