Snow, drops in revenue, ice Cherry Hill tax relief

The three percent property tax decrease on which Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Platt successfully campaigned in November would be rolled back to a half-percent in the township budget set for a vote Monday night.

The owner of a $140,000 home would pay $1,185 this year - $7 less than last year, but $35 more than Platt promised.

The tax relief was scaled back to cover the cost of clearing this winter's record snowfalls and because of unexpected drops in revenue from the township's investments and building permit and construction fees, said Dan Keashen, the mayor's spokesman.

The new tax rate would generate an additional $1.2 million, raising the township's revenues to $63.9 million during the budget year, which ends June 30.

Dave Fleisher, president of the all-Democratic council, defended the increase as necessary to keep the budget balanced in difficult economic times.

"The end result is still a flat tax levy," said Fleisher, who ran with Platt.

But the failure to deliver the tax decrease has some township residents, who already saw their sewer fees rise this year, raising questions about how Platt had expected to deliver on his pledge.

"We don't believe they have been budgeting honestly," said Nancy O'Dowd, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for council in November. "They have layoffs, but the net number of [employees] is not considerably lower."

With the news this week that Gov. Christie intends to cut state formula aid to Cherry Hill by 20 percent, or $8.8 million, in the next fiscal year, drastic spending cuts are likely, Fleisher said.

He said he would look at all areas of the budget for possible reductions, and while not going into specifics, he said he expected there would be more layoffs.

"There's always room for cuts," he said. "The question is at what pain and cost."