MAYOR’S COLUMN
At our May 29 meeting, the Voorhees Township Committee adopted the 2018 Municipal Budget with no local tax increase to our residents.
The Municipal Budget accounts for 20.7% of your total tax bill. Our Fire Department was recently consolidated into the Township, so the cost of the department is now included in the Municipal Budget.
Among other initiatives, this flat budget includes three new full-time firefighters and two new full time Emergency Medical Technicians along with a new fire truck and ambulance. In addition, there is $1,000,000 in road repairs, a new compressed natural gas trash/recycling truck, $100,000 set aside for a potential street hockey rink and $100,000 to be used to address opioid abuse. We will continue to focus municipal spending on public safety and our municipal infrastructure.
The Township Committee has worked to control municipal spending while maintaining the high level of municipal services our residents have come to expect and deserve. Programs like our side-arm trash collection and our side-arm recycling collection have allowed more efficient use of our Department of Public Works staff members. The installation of new EPA approved fuel tanks allows us to buy gas and diesel directly from the provider, resulting in savings of approximately 15¢ per gallon.
Our shared services programs have created revenue for the Township while cutting costs. We have shared services programs with Camden County, the Voorhees Schools, Eastern Regional High School, Cherry Hill, Gibbsboro, Magnolia, Stratford, Bellmawr and Laurel Springs. We meet regularly with area municipalities to discuss other potential shared services initiatives.
We will continue our partnership with the schools to provide a police officer in every school all day every day.
The Township’s use of Compressed Natural Gas trucks has not only saved approximately $35,000 a year in fuel costs but helps protect our environment by emitting significantly less greenhouse gases.
In 2017, we joined a consortium of County municipalities working with a third party identifying banks that are in possession of abandoned properties and affixing substantial financial penalties for the properties in disrepair. These new funds have freed up tax dollars that in the past were used to maintain abandoned homes.
The Township continues a partnership with an energy company to purchase power directly from the source, saving approximately $125,000 per year in utility costs.
Generating tax revenue is also important in stabilizing taxes. The continued evolution of the Virtua Medical Campus and our Medical Mile on Route 73 has created hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue and hundreds of new jobs. Also, in 2017 Voorhees saw 47 new businesses open, leading to the creation of hundreds of new jobs.
The Township Committee will continue to work hard to control spending and generate revenue.
** The first show in our 2018 Summer Twilight Series will be on Thursday, June 21, and will feature The 52nd Street Band, a 6-piece ensemble recreating the performances of arguably the greatest rock and roll keyboard player ever, the Piano Man, Billy Joel. The 52nd Street Band has become the ultimate tribute to the music of Billy Joel. The show is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. on the “Great Lawn” at Connolly Park. A “Beer Garden” and food trucks will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.voorheesnj.com or call the show hot line at 856-882-SHOW.
** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Tickets are available in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Voorhees Town Hall. Prices vary according to the type of ticket and several options are available to residents and non-residents. For more information about tickets, visit www.voorheesnj.com.
** The Voorhees Arts Council continues their 3rd Wednesday Art Program. This month is an evening of rock painting with Voorhees Rocks painter Juliet Hossain and is designed for both experienced rock painters and those new to the idea. The event is Wednesday, June 20, from 7 -9 p.m. in the Arts Center located behind the food court in the Voorhees Town Center Mall. The materials fee is $20 and includes everything you need to complete the project. Refreshments will be served. Register at sustainablevoorhees@gamil.com and pay by credit card, cash or check at the door.
