By VASHTI HARRIS
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK After months of planning and preparation, Mayor Brad Cohen announced that the Shop East Brunswick program will begin on June 1.
“Residents can pick up a free card at the township’s Municipal Building, the Senior Center, the East Brunswick Public Library and the Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services building,” Cohen said during the May 22 council meeting.
By using the card, residents will receive a deduction on their property taxes when they shop at a local business. Non-residents and renters in town will be able to participate but will receive their rebates as a check, rather than a deduction on their taxes, according to the program.
Currently, there are 32 businesses signed up, ranging from diners and restaurants to professional services and car dealerships. However, more businesses can be added to the list in the future, according to Cohen.
In order to keep the cards free, most municipalities find sponsors to fund the cards. Investors Bank and Jane Mueller, broker associate for RE/MAX First Realty, have sponsored the cards in East Brunswick, according to Cohen.
Cohen has advocated and spearheaded the campaign to get the program implemented during both his mayoral campaign and his time as mayor.
He said that the program addresses two main concerns that he constantly heard during his campaign.
“I think it’s great because [the Shop East Brunswick Property Tax Card program] was one of my campaign promises and it’s always good to keep your promises, but the program marries the two things that residents [are] most concerned about which [are] high property taxes and the lack of small businesses staying in East Brunswick. This program, we hope, will encourage local small businesses to stay in East Brunswick and also show them that something is being done from a government standpoint to keep them here,” Cohen said.
For more information about the tax rebate program, visit www.eastbrunswick.org/content/198/835/default.aspx.
For a list of participating businesses, visit www.propertytaxcard.com/ShopEastBrunswick/participants.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].