By Amy Batista, Special Writer
FLORENCE — The Township Council has introduced a budget calling for no tax rate hike.
”This is a credit to the mayor, Township Council and all employees who work together to stabilize costs and also reduce expenditures whenever possible,” said Township Administrator Richard Brook in an email March 7.
”The term doing ‘more with less’ is what this budget reflects,” said Mayor Craig Wilkie in an email March 10.
He added, “The 2013 budget was balanced because the tax collector’s office had the highest collection rate in over 10 years,” Mayor Wilkie added. “This efficiency is (the) result of the commitment from the township employees.”
The tax rate will remain 43.9 cents per $100 of assessment. The average township house is assessed at $227,410, according to Mr. Brook, translating to annual taxes of $998.33.
He said the average assessment dropped slightly from last’s year average of $229,291.
Helping to keep taxes low was taking advantage of historically low interest rates for borrowing, Mr. Brook said, ultimately saving the township money.
”The debt service payments begin to decrease in 2016,” Mr. Brook said.
The township is under the state-mandated 2 percent cap with $182,306 to spare, Mr. Brook said.
The overall operating budget has been reduced from $10,750,143 in 2012 to $10,394,418 in 2013 with a decrease in appropriations of $355,735.
The budget does not contain any layoffs and maintains all existing service levels, Mr. Brook said. He attributes costs being reduced through attrition and retirements.
”Further, the employees are always looking for new ways to stabilize and reduce expenses,” Mr. Brook added.
Some ways in which this has been accomplished is from purchasing electricity and natural gas with other municipalities to making upgrades to energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems, he said. The township keeps pressing for ways to lower its expenses, he added.
According to Mr. Brook, it is a “concerted and collective effort.”
He said, “Florence Township is fortunate to have so many hardworking and skilled employees who are dedicated to the community. By all working together, we are proud to represent the residents and businesses of Florence Township.”
Mayor Wilkie reflected how the township and its municipal employees are utilizing technology and software to make their departments more efficient where staffing has seen cutbacks.
”Finance had three people when I came into office; they now have two,” Mayor Wilkie said. “The tax collector’s office had four, and now they have three. We have new tax collection software. Plans are in place to replace the financial software.”
The mayor added, “The phone system has been changed so every call does not have to go through the township clerk’s office. This way, the employees can still accomplish what was being done before while we ask for more.”
”It is not easy, but we have little options because of the state of the economy,” Mayor Wilkie said. “With NFI/Subaru and Burlington Coat Factory moving forward, this will help in the future.”
NFI Real Estate officially broke ground Sept. 5 at its site, NFI Park at Florence Crossings, and is set to feature Subaru of America’s new parts distribution center and training facility.
Subaru of America is based in Cherry Hill, and its new facility at NFI Park at Florence Crossings, 2020 Route 130, will be less than half a mile from the New Jersey Turnpike and Pennsylvania Turnpike extension.
”(It will bring) 250 to 300 construction jobs and a minimum of 30 permanent jobs,” said Michael Landsburg, real estate manager of NFI Real Estate, in an email to the Register-News on Aug. 24.
The Township Council unanimously adopted an ordinance allowing Burlington Coat Factory to move forward with a redevelopment plan to transform several Route 130 parcels into the home of its new corporate headquarters during its council meeting in Nov.19, 2012.
”The building is to be somewhere between 180,000 and 198,000 square feet with two wings — one four floors and the other, three floors — with expansion up to 270,000 square feet as the final architectural plans have not been completed,” said Robert Stout, project engineer of Stout & Caldwell Engineers in Cinnaminson.
It includes 50 acres in Florence and borders an adjacent company facility in Burlington Township.
Mr. Brook also mentioned other highlights of the budget for the upcoming year, included the retiring and possible hiring of police officers.
”The most notable changes are that the township has set aside funds to replace at least one, if not two, police officers in 2013,” Mr. Brook said. “A sergeant is retiring later this year, and the force has been reduced over the past few years due to other retirements.”
According to Mr. Brook, the township is trying to return to a “more acceptable level of staffing.”
He said, “In order to prepare for hiring one or two officers, the budget had to be increased accordingly.”
Over the past several years, the township has been reducing its number of permanent employees, and this has resulted in savings, Mr. Brook said.
The Patriotic Celebration still will be in the budget this year.
”That was a priority of Mayor Wilkie and Township Council,” Mr. Brook said. “The Patriotic Celebration is successful because of the commitment of the people who plan, work and volunteer for the event. It is truly a community celebration.”
”The mayor and council wanted the staff to do its best to prepare a budget that held the local purpose tax rate steady in 2013,” Mr. Brook said. “We are pleased that this goal could be accomplished.”

