PLUMSTED — Senior citizens in Plumsted who need assistance completing and filing their federal and state income tax returns in advance of the April 15 deadline will benefit from the continuation of a new program that was offered last year and was very well received, according to Mayor Ron Dancer.
With the support of the Ocean County Senior Services Office, in cooperation with the AARP/VITA volunteer tax aide program, free tax preparation assistance for low-income to middle-income seniors in Plumsted has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. beginning Feb. 3 and running through April 14 at the Plumsted Library, 119 Evergreen Road, the mayor said.
The tax aide will provide one-on-one assistance to eligible Plumsted senior citizen taxpayers in completing their federal and state tax returns.
Due to the growing success and demand for this free tax preparation service, Plumsted residents must preregister and schedule an appointment by calling the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 1-800-668-4899 (toll free). If qualified, call the Plumsted Library at 609-758-7888 to schedule an appointment.
The complete listing of available dates for the free tax preparation services are on the following Wednesdays from 1 to 5 p.m.: Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and April 7, 14.
In other news, Dancer said the Township Committee will reduce Plumsted’s annual electric bill of $43,259 for municipal buildings and grounds and avoid future price increases for the next two years by participating in the Ocean County Energy Cooperative Pricing System (OCECPS).
The OCECPS used the shared services agreement to procure electric power for the county and OCECPS members’ facilities using an online reverse auction platform by World Energy.
Birdsall Services Group, acting as the OCECPS’s energy consultant, and channel partner World Energy assisted with preparation of the solicitation and estimated Plumsted’s savings to be approximately $2,161 for the next 24 months, according to the mayor.
The Township Committee authorized its participation in the Ocean County Energy Cooperative four years ago, and this year’s auction for supplying electrical energy was the first significant savings to its members, Dancer said.
Additional cost and energy savings will also be achieved through the efforts of Plumsted’s Green Technology Advisory Committee initiatives, including energy efficiency audits, he added.
Residents of Plumsted who are in need of animal control services should call the township clerk’s office at 609-758-2241, ext. 131.
And, dog licenses, with proof of rabies vaccination, must be purchased for 2010. The Township Committee approved a 50 percent discount in dog license fees for senior citizens and certain volunteers who own a dog. The township clerk’s office issues dog licenses and provides information on qualifying guidelines for the 50 percent discount. A late fee charge is enforced March 1 for anyone not obtaining a 2010 dog license.
The Township Committee will meet at 8 p.m. Feb. 3.