5 Burlco towns opting to exceed tax cap brace for vote

The signs say "Less Cops=More Crime" and "Fire the Politicians." They're scattered on front lawns and at intersections across Mount Holly. And some have been vandalized as tensions rise.

The township is one of five Burlington County municipalities seeking voters' permission Wednesday to exceed a 2 percent cap on property tax increases.

Mount Holly residents will decide whether they want a $207 tax increase, on average, or the loss of more than one-third of the police force and other cutbacks.

"People are saying we have to find a way to pass this or our safety will be in jeopardy . . . but there are also people who are saying, I'm having a hard enough time paying my bills now," said Paul Bracy, a longtime resident and a retired social worker and teacher.

After months of raucous debate in the New Jersey Legislature over how to reduce property taxes, Gov. Christie last year signed a bill that bars towns from going beyond the cap unless voters approve.

The battleground now has shifted to the 14 communities statewide - out of 566 - that have opted to hold such a referendum.

It will be the first time New Jersey residents will have the chance to vote on a municipal budget. The vote takes place the same day they can decide on school budgets.

Bracy, who is considering a run for the Burlington County freeholder board as an independent, said that the referendum is a hot topic in gathering places in town, and that he expected a big turnout. "Any time you have an issue that centers around fear and protection," he said, "the general populace takes notice."

On a New Jersey radio program Thursday, Christie noted that only a few towns were holding a referendum. Mayors and councils might threaten what would happen if tax caps are not approved, he said, but voters have the final word. If you don't believe the extra tax money is needed, vote it down, he told listeners.

Some officials in those towns say he doesn't get it.

Mansfield Township Mayor Arthur Puglia, a Republican, said his town was holding a referendum, and he believed the budget is fiscally responsible. The budget has been "bare bones" for years, unlike some towns, and there's no room to cut in a year when revenues are down, he said.