Borough Eying a Nearly 7-Percent Hike in Municipal Tax Rate

Borough commissioners are considering a 6.79 percent tax increase for this year's budget, which could increase the amount of taxes paid for local government service and operation by $147 yearly for the typical taxpayer.

Property owners with a home valued at the borough average of $491,359 will pay $2,318, up from $2,171.

The budget is expected to be introduced on March 27. The commissioners will meet tonight for a scheduled meeting at 7:30 at the . They are still exploring ways to trim the increase.

The tax hike is largely fueled by a nearly $500,000 increase in the reserve for uncollected taxes, a state requirement. The tax hike will still keep Haddonfield under a state-mandated 2-percent cap on increases on the amount raised by taxes, or the tax levy. The projected levy will be $10,639,666, up from $9,992,651.

Local officials said the rising amount of uncollected taxes appears to be a sign of the times.

"They don't have the money to pay their taxes," said Ed Borden, one of three borough commissioners, Haddonfield's highest elected officials. "It's very straightforward."

"There are people who would probably surprise all of us who are in that situation right now," Commissioner Tish Colombi, the mayor, chimed in.

The total budget appropriation is $13,313,400, down from $13,460,833 last year. The projected tax rate will be 47¢ per $100 of assessed property value, up from 44¢.

Haddonfield’s average property tax of $12,088.88 is nearly twice the state average at $7,776, according to the state Department of Community Affairs. Haddonfield has the second highest average property tax bill in Camden County. It trails Tavistock, an exclusive enclave at the tip of Haddonfield, enclosed mostly in an exclusive golf course. Haddonfield's property tax bills are 27 percent higher than Voorhees, $8,777.41, third in the county.