No local tax in Shamong's new budget: By PAUL LEAKAN, Burlington County Times; SHAMONG - The Township Committee voted 4-0 Tuesday to introduce the 2005 municipal budget, which calls for no local purpose-tax but does include funds that could be given to the township school district. Shamong has not levied a local purpose-tax since the early 1990s, mainly because residents have not demanded municipal services such as trash and leaf collections, officials said. The tentative $2.5 million budget calls for setting aside $25,000 in surplus funds for the school district, Mayor Peter Nelson said yesterday. The committee could donate the funds to the township Board of Education if voters reject the 2005-06 school district budget in April, and if the board demonstrates a dire need for the money. "All that does is give us an option," Deputy Mayor Jon Shevelew said. "It's not like we're writing a check for the school district. If we don't have that in there, we don't have an option at all. If there's a problem and it's a serious emergency, then we'd be in a position to help them." The committee included a similar $25,000 line item in its 2004 budget but the school board did not ask for the money last year because voters approved its 2004-05 budget. The proposed municipal budget sets aside $270,000 for capital improvements such as road work and includes a $30,000 line item for software, hardware and computer upgrades in the township's offices, Nelson said. A public hearing on the budget has been scheduled for 8 p.m. on April 5 in the township municipal building.

RESPONSE: There are a number of lessons we could learn here that would actually lower the property taxes in Mullica. About the same area as Mullica and only one volunteer fire company...Mulica has 4 with 4 times the number of expensive fire fighting vehicles. And no police department...police service is provided by the State Police.