While we continue to shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mount Laurel Township Council is keeping a close eye on operations, as well as keeping our property taxes stable. The Council voted in January 2020 to keep municipal property taxes at the same level as in 2019. Not an easy task, especially during these uncertain times.
The 2020 municipal tax rate will hold at 12 cents per $100 of assessed property value meaning NO increase in 2020! While each bill includes all taxing entities such as the Mount Laurel School District, Lenape Regional School District, Burlington County, Mount Laurel Fire District, Mount Laurel Library, and taxes for local open space and Burlington County open space, the Mount Laurel Local Purpose tax has remained stable.
Below is an breakdown of the Mount Laurel Tax Rate for 2020
Services provided by the 12% municipal tax include the following:
• Police and Animal Control services
• EMS and Office of Emergency Management
• Trash removal and disposal
• Snow removal
• Public Works: Street sweeping, pothole repairs, hazardous waste pick up
• Community Center
• Maintenance of parks and public property
• Township events: Memorial Day, Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park, Shred Event, Clean-up Day, Santa Visit, National Night Out, etc.
• Debt service, utilities, street lighting
In addition, the Mount Laurel Mayor Irwin Edelson and Council held a Special meeting on May 1, 2020 and unanimously adopted Resolution 20-R-86 extending the grace period for 2nd quarter taxes until June 1, 2020. This payment is normally due May 1st, but Council recognizes the hardships that residents and businesses have had to endure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While our Council spends our dollars wisely, the Burlington County Freeholder board recently proposed otherwise. In April 2020, the all-Democrat board voted to introduce a $216.4 million spending plan. This budget called for an approximately $5.4 million increase in spending and an $8.43 million increase in the levy property taxpayers pay to support county operations. The budget was scheduled to be voted on May 27th. However, after public outcry at their next scheduled meeting against the tax increase, the freeholders regrouped and decided to trim the open space/farmland preservation tax from 3 cents per $100 of assessed value to 2 cents per $100. The intent of the approximately $4.5 million decrease is to provide taxpayers with some relief, but the county’s general operations budget calls for taxpayers to pay about $8 million more to support regular spending by the county. The freeholders approved the $216.4 million spending plan on May 27th. While they believe their actions will ultimately reduce the county portion of the tax bill, the true impact on individual taxpayer bills will not be determined until equalized rates are established for each of Burlington County’s 40 municipalities, which will happen this summer. Our County taxes have always remained low and have even decreased under previous freeholder administrations. Increases in spending, as well as taxes during this unprecedented time are uncalled for.
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