You all have received your 3^rd Quarter Tax Bill from the Township Finance Office.  While this bill is labeled “Estimated”, it is indeed a real bill with payment due to the Township by August 21^st with no penalty.  Please be advised of the following regarding this “Estimated” Tax Bill. 

• Those who have their property taxes paid through your respective mortgage companies do not need to act on this bill. All mortgage companies have already been notified. 
  
  
• The Township has not issued estimated tax bills for at least 5 years.
  
  
• The reason for the estimated tax bill this year is that the State of New Jersey strongly recommended all municipalities issue estimated bills due to the uncertainty from COVID-19. Most, if not all, municipalities that we have communicated with are issuing estimated bills.
  
  
• Bills were estimated 5% over the previous quarters. This is because as a municipality, we are obligated to collect and subsequently distribute all taxes for the schools, Burlington County, both fire districts, and open space in full.  Until the State settles their budget and we know for sure the tax rates and how that will affect the property tax bills, we need to account for the maximum possible increase.
  
  
• NOTE: Because this bill is estimated “high”, we anticipate the November (4^th Quarter) bill to be adjusted as well. That is, you can reasonably anticipate a lower tax bill in November.  We will not know for sure the amount until the State adopts their budget (likely October).
  
  
• As a reminder, the municipal portion of this tax bill (and all tax bills) is less than 16%. The balance of the tax payment goes to the school district, Burlington County, Fire Districts, and open space. 
  
  
• The Township portion of your tax bill has not increased this year, and has increased a total of approximately $5 in the past 7 years.
  
  
• The State Budget currently does not include either the Senior Tax Freeze or the Homestead Rebate credits for 2020. Please be advised that the Township has no jurisdiction over these matters and has no authority to issue these credits locally.  We will not know if the State will forego these credit programs in 2020 until the State ultimately adopts their budget.

We understand the difficult burden property taxes have on all residents and businesses. Estimated bills such as the one you just received lends to further confusion and frustration. Please call Town Hall at 609-298-2800 for the Finance Office at extension 5479 or the Township Administrator at extension 2102 with any questions.

Thank You

The Township has a limited amount of masks to distribute. To request a  free mask please contact the Mayor’s Office at: (609)-298-2800 ext.2109.

Like many of you, I have watched the nation’s voices rise up against racism, police brutality, and inequality. A significant part of those very moving messages concerned the importance of local municipalities, Police Departments, and Mayors in taking an honest look at what was happening in our own communities. On behalf of the Bordentown Township Committee,  we join in the movement to stomp out racism, police brutality, and social inequality in our community and in this country. Black Lives Matter.

Here in Bordentown, we were directly faced with this. When the specifics of the civil rights charges against a former Chief of Police in 2017 came to light, we held an open public meeting to listen to our residents. The Township acknowledged that words alone are hollow, and that we would forever be judged by our actions moving forward. Led by our current Chief of Police Brian Pesce, we immediately underwent the necessary changes to our Police Department. I cannot be more proud of the actions that Chief Brian Pesce has taken since he took over in 2017.

Chief Pesce adopted and enforced the “Six Pillars of Twenty First Century Policing” asrecommended by the President’s task force on policing in 2014. Specifically, every member of thePolice Department was outfitted with body cameras, underwent de-escalation training, and was issued non-lethal force devices. Our Internal Affairs processes were studied and revamped to include maximum transparency. The Police Department’s move toward community outreach and policinghas slowly built the trust back with our community.

Chief Pesce has made it clear from the beginning of his tenure that the Police Department now has a “guardian” mindset versus the previously promoted “warrior” mindset. Like the rest of America, wehave a long way to go, and we will not let up or turn a blind eye to what is happening around us.

The changes cannot be limited to our Police Department. We need to look at our entire municipal operation to ensure that all voices are heard and represented. Just as we did in 2017, we will continueto evaluate and monitor all procedures, specifically surrounding use of force, on a regular basis. But those are just words. I implore all of our residents, businesses, and visitors to get actively involved in this community. The Township and the Police Department are ready, willing, and able to listen andlearn from you.

We are reminded, again, of the inherent racial biases of our criminal justice and policing systems nationwide. Our country, as great as it is, has failed to address racism, both institutionally andpractically. Many honest, uncomfortable, and painful discussions need to be held on this subject. However, those discussions will not be useful if we don’t truly listen to those who have been andcontinue to be affected by the scourge of racism.

As Mayor of Bordentown Township, I can affect what happens in my community, and I and the rest of the Township Committee are committed to being part of the solution.

Your Mayor, Stephen Benowitz