The Marlboro tax rewards program is getting off the ground. The Economic Development Committee rolled out the program for Marlboro businesses last week, after months of controlled beta testing around town.

The program is a part of the Shop Marlboro initiative to keep residents shopping in Marlboro. Residents will have a percentage of their purchases in Marlboro go toward their property tax bill.

"We believe if it works in Marlboro, it will spread, and it will spread quickly," Mayor Jon Hornik said.

The program offers flexibility to business owners, who choose their own percentage of each purchase which will be applied to municipal taxes for individual residents. For business owners, the program is designed to work like any marketing strategy, such as coupons.

"This gives you a competitive advantage. You now have the ability to market something no one else can market," Larry Rosen, Director of the Economic Development Committee and Deputy Mayor said.

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Business owners participating in the Shop Marlboro rewards program should claim their listing for free Patch and let their customers know!

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Each business can choose a percentage, anywhere from one percent and above, of a kickback to offer their customers. That percentage represents the percentage of the individual purchase that will benefit a resident's property taxes.

Twenty percent of the of the tax rebate amount is allocated for operational funds of the program. If a business decided ten percent of the purchase will be allotted for the rebate, the customer will see eight percent of that purchase applied to their tax bill.

Rosen said each business that signs up should sit down, look at their current marketing strategies and budgets, and factor this program in as a marketing strategy.

Businesses will also pay a $10 flat fee for operational costs per month. The systems works with some existing point of sales systems, but if it doesn't, an attached swipe card system is for sale.

"Whenever a Marlboro resident goes to your business, and they make a purchase, a portion of that revenue will go to pay down their taxes," Rosen said. "They have to spend the money anyway, now they know they should spend it with you."

Marlboro residents will receive free Shop Marlboro cards, courtesy of Investors Bank. When that card is registered, each resident can log on and track their purchases as well as how much money has been allotted to their block and lot.

The resident website will link to participating businesses, adding extra advertising and signage.

The EDC is now focusing on signing businesses up for the program as well as pushing marketing to educate residents about the rewards.

Stick with Patch for upcoming EDC events and information about the tax rewards program.

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