Non-profit Camden day care shocked by property tax bill
Some South Jersey day care centers are preparing for a fight. After years of being exempt from property taxes, Camden County officials say it’s time to pay.El Centro Comunal Borincano day care executive director Sonia Plaza said the Camden day care hasn’t paid property taxes since it opened in 1972, because it’s considered a non-profit. So she was surprised to hear…”They want me to pay I think it’s like $15,000 a quarter,” Plaza said. “In 2010 in September I received my tax bill and I was like, it must be a mistake. And I went to find out and that’s when I was told no your tax-exempt has been canceled!”Plaza said many of the children come from low income families, and to pay the taxes she would have to charge them more. She said she’s filing a complaint against Camden City to re-instate her tax exempt status, and other daycare operators plan to do the same. Camden County tax administrator Kelly Heppe said during a re-evaluation, it came to light that some day cares that should have been paying, were not.
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