HILLSBOROUGH: Shop Hillsborough program off to flying start

By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
More than 1,845 families and 22 renters have signed up a little more than a week for the Shop Hillsborough property tax credit program.
Residents received their Shop Hillsborough Cards around the first of the month and about 15 percent registered as users of the program in the opening days. To do so, people go online, enter their block and lot number and create a password for their account.
Township officials are pleased. According to Greg Burchette, the spearhead of the program, the organizing company called it a "fantastic response."
The Shop Hillsborough cards were mailed Sept. 29 with the tax statements.
The Shop Hillsborough Program promotes local shopping while allowing card holders the opportunity to reduce their property tax bill or receive a reward check. Shoppers will earn property tax credits every time they provide the Shop Hillsborough property tax reward card at the time of purchase at a participating merchant.
The tax credits will be applied once a year to the property tax bill — probably with the February statements — or, in the case of a renter, a rebate check will be issued. Individuals who work in Hillsborough, but are not property owners within the township, can also secure a card.
"We are thrilled with the success of the launch of this program," commented Mayor Tomson.As of Oct. 1, 61 Hillsborough businesses are participating.
Click the link http://propertytaxcard.com/ShopHillsborough/login for a complete listing.  Businesses who are interested in becoming participating merchants can contact Carmine de Falco of FinCredit, Inc. at [email protected].