In the second week, the committee candidates answer questions about the township’s tax rates and economic development.
The Mullica Hill Sun is running a four-week Meet the Candidates series ahead of this November’s Harrison Township Committee election.
Jacqueline Vigilante
1.) Harrison Township continuously has one of the lowest tax rates in Gloucester County. How would you continue this if you were elected?
If elected to Township Committee to serve the residents of Harrison Township, our goal will be to focus on fiscal conservatism. As we see it, there are only a few ways to reduce or maintain the current tax rate — curb spending, find other revenue sources or cut waste in the budget.
The municipal tax rate is the rate applied to the assessed value of land in Harrison to raise the money needed to meet the budgetary needs of Harrison Township. Harrison has boasted that it has one of the lowest tax rates in Gloucester County this year and that it has managed to maintain a flat tax rate from 2016 to 2017. The way Harrison managed to keep a flat tax rate from 2016 to 2017 was to take $1.3 million from the sale of liquor licenses and use it as general revenue this year. As a result, the township did not have to raise taxes to cover $1.3 million dollars in the budget.
The real question is how does the current leadership plan to replicate that revenue in the future? There is no revenue source available to the township to make up that revenue in 2018. So, in order to maintain the tax rate, we will look at the spending in all township departments and trim the fat and cut the waste. No one wants to see a tax increase. Our taxes are high enough.
We believe the fiscally responsible thing would have been to reserve some, or all, of the liquor license revenue for future expenses that will certainly come with bars and a liquor store. However, current leadership chose to use it all so that it could claim to have a flat tax rate in an election year. We think that choice was misleading and unwise.
2.) Harrison Township is slated to see substantial commercial projects come to fruition in the upcoming years, such as the Inspira Medical Center and Richwood Town Center. How would you continue the township’s economic development?
Lisa Rotte and I are excited about the prospects of growth and development in our community, and look forward to the opportunity to work with the residential and business community to lead Harrison into this next phase of its history.
We are cognizant, though, that many of us moved to Harrison Township because we liked that it was not over-developed like neighboring townships such as Washington and Deptford. Most of us want convenience, but not at the expense of losing the rural lifestyle we enjoy in Richwood, Mullica Hill, Jefferson and Ewan.
As a team, Rotte and I are concerned about the expansive new commercial projects, considering we have vacant commercial space throughout our township such as on Bridgeton Pike, Main Street and Tomlin Station Road.
We plan to explore grants and PILOTs that will allow us to offer economic incentives to entice development in the under-utilized existing commercial zones as well as in the Richwood project. We are hopeful we can enhance support for small, family-owned businesses, which make up the heart and soul of our business community. We understand as leaders in Harrison Township, we owe the community responsible development going forward that will maintain the character and lifestyle we all enjoy here in Harrison, and we are committed to accepting that responsibility.
Lisa A. Rotte
1.) Harrison Township continuously has one of the lowest tax rates in Gloucester County. How would you continue this if you were elected?
If we are privileged enough to be elected to serve on the Harrison Township Committee, our ongoing pledge to our neighbors and fellow residents is to increase the quality of life and affordability to live here over the long haul. To achieve this, we have the responsibility to provide our residents necessary services and do so while staying within the budget the township gets from its taxpayers.
Tax rates are often cited as some magical measure of effectiveness while the truth is, they are only one element (and a misleading one at that). No one pays a tax rate on their homes — they pay a tax bill. That tax bill is determined not just by the tax rate, but also by the county appraised value of your home. So, you can keep the tax rate low and your tax bill will continue to go up if the appraisers continue to raise your assessment. We think many of us have experienced this in the past few years. We know our tax bills have certainly gone up.
In the end, though, the most important measure of fiscal responsibility is a simple one: as a township, are you spending less than you get from the taxpayers? Our township has spent so much that we now find ourselves in crushing debt. In fact, our township’s debt has increased in the past five years from less than $30 million to more than $40 million, and that is over three times what the entire budget for the township is per year.
We’re failing at that basic measure of fiscal responsibility. We clearly cannot keep spending more than we have without mortgaging the future of our township. So, how do you keep taxes from going up? That’s relatively simple; you spend less on frivolous, unnecessary expenditures and treat the townships budgets as if they were your own. By reducing these “shiny object” purchases, we can pay down the enormous debt township finds itself suffering under and keep tax bills from going up.
2.) Harrison Township is slated to see substantial commercial projects come to fruition in the upcoming years, such as the Inspira Medical Center and Richwood Town Center. How would you continue the township’s economic development?
As for continuing the economic development that has been started, we are committed to working closely with prospective small business owners and commercial land developers to help grow our township, but grow it in a way that preserves our unique essence and heritage.
As we talk to more and more residents, we find that most want the town to keep its small-town feel. They want to have modern day conveniences with nostalgic charm. We will work closely with the Economic Development Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission, and the Merchants Association and with the Joint Land Use Commission to insure a smooth and welcoming presence to new and open ideas for businesses and residences within the Main Street area and outlying developments.
We would like to see our residents, and residents of other towns, wanting to come to Mullica Hill to dine, shop and spend an afternoon and evening. We will work closely to welcome new small businesses, restaurants and homeowners to help pave the way for a successful transition into our township and community so they will thrive, and our township will thrive.
Louis Manzo
1.) Harrison Township continuously has one of the lowest tax rates in Gloucester County. How would you continue this if you were elected?
The premise of this question fundamentally acknowledges the plan we put in place several years ago is having a significant impact. Therefore, my answer is, if elected, I will maintain the momentum we’ve created by executing the remaining phases of our fiscal plan that currently has Harrison as the second lowest total, and third lowest municipal, tax rate in Gloucester County based on the 2017 data, (http://www.gloucestercountynj.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=10203). Though our opponents will continue to distort the facts with misleading references to spending, debt and budgets, the math does not lie. In fact, an independent statewide study released on Sept. 20 confirmed Harrison Township as the best value in Gloucester County based on the ratio of median income to property taxes, (http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/09/towns_where_property_taxes_hurt_the_least_in_each.html).
That being said, we all know property taxes in the state of New Jersey are outrageous as a whole. Every town has the same complaint across the state. The real fix must occur in Trenton by addressing the school-funding formula and additional pension reform.
This is not meant to “pass the buck” of responsibility, but the fact is only 15 percent of your tax payment remains in Harrison to pay for our local budget. It is important everyone understands how your local elected officials spend your money; so let me clarify that with a basic example.
The average-priced home in Harrison Township is $341,000, which means they would pay a total tax of approximately $9,400. The local portion of that bill is about $1,450, or $121 per month. This is the portion of your tax bill we control and use to provide you with all our local programs and services. Those services include police, public works, trash collection and the new curbside yard waste program, our park system, our multiple recreation programs and special events like Harrison Township Day and Lights on Main. The $121 per month also pays for the township’s 47 employee’s salaries, benefits and pensions. Lastly, it also includes all debt payment on any equipment purchases or major projects, like the new police facility.
I’m very proud of our fiscal track record and these numbers explain why. But, I ask you to judge for yourself. Are you surprised we have built a budget that pays for everything for $121 a month for the average-priced home? If you elect Julie DeLaurentis and I, we will stick to the plan with these proven results.
2.) Harrison Township is slated to see substantial commercial projects come to fruition in the upcoming years, such as the Inspira Medical Center and Richwood Town Center. How would you continue the township’s economic development?
The current/pending commercial projects are part of the master plan we set in motion seven to eight years ago. Again, the premise of this question seems to acknowledge our success in this area.
The approval of the new Inspira Medical Center is a game changer for the entire region and the impact on our hometown will be monumental. A facility delivering state-of-the-art medical care is the cornerstone of a community and in this case, our new hospital will spur our local economy and raise the bar for the planned development of Richwood.
The economic downturn delayed the Richwood project repeatedly, but the developer is finalizing details to move forward in 2018. The first phase will include a shopping center and Town Center anchored by COSTCO and Frank’s Theater & Entertainment Center, respectively. It will be great to finally see the transformation of the 322 & 55 interchange.
If elected, I will stay the course with our redevelopment plan, including rolling out beneficial Payment In Lieu Of Taxes programs. This all culminates in desirable development, while also maximizing revenues for our town.
The fact is, we are in a very favorable position and I’m proud of our many achievements.
Julie DeLaurentis
1.) Harrison Township continuously has one of the lowest tax rates in Gloucester County. How would you continue this if you were elected?
Harrison Township, like every town in New Jersey, is faced with the challenge of high taxes. This is common across the state and not isolated to Harrison Township only.
What most people do not realize is only 15 percent of residential property tax is allocated to our local government. That’s correct, only 15 percent of your taxes are used at the local level, and we have the second lowest tax rate in the county. By the way, it is the state that must address tax reform if we want to see taxes truly come down.
What does having the second lowest tax rate mean? Frankly, it means the programs Lou Manzo and the committee have put in place over the last seven to eight years have been very effective.
Understanding that our town expanded significantly from early 2000 to 2009, it is amazing we have been able to keep the rate so low and also implement the infrastructure improvements required as a result of the significant population growth (thankfully that has slowed considerably). Our commercial tax revenue has increased over 300 percent and we have more in the pipeline that will continue to offset our expenses. There are opportunities to reduce costs through shared services, as well as continue to utilize Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs that have a tremendous impact on our bottom line. If we, as a community, stay on course we will be vibrant and prosperous for many years to come.
Finally, I will continue to work with Manzo to build our bipartisan approach and work closely with the state and county officials to get the necessary support and funding we need locally. This is very important. The bipartisan relationships we have built have resulted in millions of funding dollars coming to our town. Previous leadership did not believe in a bipartisan approach and we received next to nothing. Going back to partisan politics would truly hurt us on so many levels.
2.) Harrison Township is slated to see substantial commercial projects come to fruition in the upcoming years, such as the Inspira Medical Center and Richwood Town Center. How would you continue the township’s economic development?
First, let me say we are very fortunate to have the new Inspira Medical Center coming to our town. I know how hard Manzo worked to get that done and it is a true game changer for Harrison. The Medical Center will be a corner stone to our prosperous economic future.
If elected, I would continue to develop and expand the relationship with Rowan as they are truly a university on the rise. There are so many mutually beneficial things we can explore with them, and the Route 55 corridor will be a recognizable destination for both entities. Many residents have asked us, “When is Costco coming?” I’m excited to say the developer is planning to break ground in 2018. The Richwood Town Center will provide a diversity of shopping and services to both the Harrison and Rowan communities.
Our Main Street holds great promise as well. The events currently produced, such as Lights on Main, provide a wonderful sense of community and are building positive momentum. We need to work closely with our Main Street merchants and all of our local businesses to collectively build a message that attracts consumers and ultimately brings in new businesses. They say, “A rising tide floats every boat;” working together is really the key to making Main Street the centerpiece of our community.
As a team, Rotte and I are concerned about the expansive new commercial projects, considering we have vacant commercial space throughout our township such as on Bridgeton Pike, Main Street and Tomlin Station Road.
We plan to explore grants and PILOTs that will allow us to offer economic incentives to entice development in the under-utilized existing commercial zones as well as in the Richwood project. We are hopeful we can enhance support for small, family-owned businesses, which make up the heart and soul of our business community. We understand as leaders in Harrison Township, we owe the community responsible development going forward that will maintain the character and lifestyle we all enjoy here in Harrison, and we are committed to accepting that responsibility.
