Tough fiscal choices in Cherry Hill

By Bernie Platt

Cherry Hill faced a number of significant issues in 2006.

First and foremost was the fiscal challenge. At a time when the cost of state-mandated pension payments increased dramatically and insurance, fuel and other expenses also were rising steeply, our state funding was cut. But Council and I worked together to meet these challenges.

Using sound fiscal management, we made the tough choices necessary to cut $7.5 million from the township's preliminary tax levy.

Even in the face of these budget cuts, we continue to deliver a high level of service by enhancing public safety, bolstering economic development, and preserving open space for future generations.

Our impact on the overall tax bill was limited, since the township receives 11 percent of the total property taxes collected, as opposed to the school district's share, which is 55 percent of the current tax bill.

For 2007, Council and I make two promises to you: First, we will continue to operate in a fiscally responsible manner, working to do more with fewer of your tax dollars. Second, Cherry Hill will remain a great place to live.

During the last several years, we have identified shared services as a new and necessary initiative to decrease taxes.

We have been at the forefront of this effort, producing shared services with the fire department, the school district, Camden County, and state agencies. In the coming year, we'll continue to save taxpayers' money through innovative local sharing programs and by consolidating our purchasing power.

[Last year] saw the emergence of several new challenges for our community.

While we have been receptive to the needs of local business leaders by cutting the red tape and being business-friendly, that welcome is only open to those businesses that we want as our neighbors. Council and I will fight to preserve our neighborhoods and protect our children from the onslaught of smut and depravity.

I am conscious of the sensitivity this effort has meant for our neighbors in Erlton North and South, and Barclay Farm. I assure you, preserving our unique quality of life in Cherry Hill is still my top priority.

Another challenge we face is the impending redesign of Route 70. While Route 70 is a state highway, it is also the gateway through Cherry Hill.

I am mindful of the potential impact this project can have not only on the surrounding neighborhoods, but also on the region. We need to balance these competing interests so a solution can be reached that benefits all concerned.

That's why I've initiated a Route 70 Task Force, made up of Cherry Hill residents, to study proposals and make recommendations to shape the transformation of Route 70.

The task force will ensure that the needs of our neighbors are addressed, while fulfilling the goal of a safer and aesthetically appealing thoroughfare.

Economic prosperity is only a part of the reason Cherry Hill is a great place to live, work and raise a family. In 2006, Money and Philadelphia magazines both recognized the Cherry Hill Police Department as one of the top local law enforcement agencies in the country.

Maintaining our unique way of life also demands attention to our children. In 2006, Council and I established a Township Sports Commission to advise us about the needs of our youth athletic leagues and facilities. In addition, we doubled grant funding, provided extra services to these facilities, and completed several new capital improvement projects.

In 2007, I will make youth recreation a priority. We will propose a comprehensive plan to revitalize current athletic fields and identify sites for new recreation facilities. In addition, we will work toward instituting background checks for all Cherry Hill youth coaches.