Sharing a Superintendent with Oaklyn?

Collingswood Public Schools will discuss this proposal at its meeting tonight: 7:30 p.m. at the Zane North School.

On the table at tonight's board of education meeting is a proposal for the Collingswood school district to share administrative services, including superintendent responsibilities, with neighboring Oaklyn. Shared services have been a major component of cost-cutting measures employed by the district in recent years. Superintendent Scott Oswald credits such initiatives with helping the board shave tax dollars off its 2012 budget. The meeting will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the all-purpose room at the Zane-North School. The agenda is hosted on the district website.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Last Chance

Last Chance to: Mail Your Taxes

Today is Tax Day.

Federal and state income tax returns must be postmarked by 11:59 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, April 17, to meet this year's deadline, which falls two days later than normal because the traditional April 15 deadline fell on a Sunday and because the District of Columbia celebrated Emancipation Day on Monday. The Bellmawr post office is the only U.S. Postal Service location in the area that will offer extended hours for the tax-filing deadline. The service window at the Bellmawr post office, located at 421 Beningo Blvd., will remain open until 10 p.m. tonight to handle tax filers. Customers who need window service are advised to get to the post office before 10 p.m. Last-minute filers will also be able to drop tax forms (and a check or money order…

• Photos (1)

Borough Buzzing About 2011 Municipal Budget Adoption

Collingswood residents share their opinions about paying property taxes and preventing police layoffs.

What’s the latest buzz in Collingswood? The borough formally adopted the 2011 Municipal Budget at Monday evening’s Collingswood Borough Commission meeting.  In this installment of Borough Beeswax, residents discuss their opinions about the new budget, which will increase annual property taxes for the average assessed home by $78—rather than the originally-proposed $150 average increase. Collingswood's amended budget rescinded its originally-proposed police ordinance, which would have laid off two police officers and demoted nearly every superior officer. The new contract ensures no police demotions and layoffs, because officers have agreed to concessions and a zero-percent salary increase.  Here's what residents have to say about the …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (4)

Budget Hearing Held, Adoption Monday

Borough officials met this Wednesday for a public hearing on the municipal budget, but will meet again for adoption Monday.

A Wednesday, June 1 special meeting at borough hall served as a public hearing for the municipal budget, but no formal adoption was made.  According to Mayor James Maley, state representatives were able to look at Collingswood's budget, but minor details still need to be worked out. Maley set a tentative meeting to formally adopt the budget this coming Monday, June 6. "The state told us we cannot vote to adopt (our budget) yet, because a few other things have to be taken care of," said Maley Wednesday. "We may be able to vote on Monday." The budget has already been introduced, and amended, bringing the borough's original average property tax increase from $150 per year to a $78 annual increase. However, $48 of the $72 in average savings …

• Photos (1)

Budget Tax Amendment Formally Introduced Friday

Commissioners officially amended the municipal budget Friday afternoon, bringing an original $150 property tax increase down to $78.

At 3 p.m. Friday, May 37, commissioners met at borough hall, officially introducing a 2011-2012 municipal budget amendment that would bring the property tax increase from $150 to $78. "The DCA (New Jersey Department of Community Affairs) has reviewed our amendment to the budget, and we're now cleared to approve that amendment," said Collingswood Mayor James Maley at the start of Friday's meeting. The amendment introduction, originally scheduled for earlier this week, was postponed when a state reviewer was unable to look at Collingswood's budget due to illness, said Maley.  "(Friday's) meeting is an adjournment, or continuation, of our Tuesday meeting. This budget amendment will reduce taxes from (the originally-proposed) $150 (tax …

•  9 Comments
• Photos (1)

Borough Beeswax

Borough Beeswax Is Buzzing About Borough Improvements

Residents discuss what improvements they'd like to see in the town they love most.

What’s the latest buzz in Collingswood? Collingswood residents are proud of their increasingly popular town; nonetheless, there is always room for improvement. From concerns about parking to suggestions about housing, the townspeople have spoken, and they’re passionate about bettering their borough. A borough crossing guard for the past two years, Cindy Janczewski has a hard time thinking of something she’d like to see changed in the town in which she grew up and still lives. “I think the increase in business really adds to the town,” Janczewski said.  But Janczewski also says this improvement in business has resulted in a need for more parking, especially for out-of-towners coming to visit. In her line of work, she hears a lot of …

• Photos (5)