JACKSON TWP — Business owners packed the Jackson Township Supervisors meeting Thursday night to voice frustration over the tax bills they were mailed this month.

Kevin Lenz, a driving instructor, said the $800 business privilege tax is not fair to small businesses as it taxes them the same amount as large businesses owned by corporations.

“If they couldn't pass a law that's fair, don't pass it at all,” Lenz said.

Sherry Cebek, who owns a store in the township, said even though she doesn't work from home, the tax still adversely affects the finances of her business.

“I think it's a shame, that's what you did,” Cebek said.

She said she also felt the tax bill arrived on very short notice.

“I didn't get the letter until the first week of June, and it's due in July,” Cebek said.

Allan Martin, another business owner, also said the tax is disagreeable.

With each business owner's complaint, most others in the visitors gallery applauded in agreement.

Township Supervisor Jay Grinnell, who is also a township business owner, addressed the concerns raised about the tax that the supervisors approved earlier this year.

“I'm not very happy about it either,” he said.

Grinnell added the township needed to impose the tax to offset damage done from traffic increases from the businesses.

“The businesses coming in have caused a lot of stress on the township's infrastructure,” he said.

Grinnell said most of this stress is caused by the larger businesses, but state law also dictates that to enact a tax of this nature, it must be a flat tax.

“If we don't tax the businesses, then we have to tax the residents — and that's not fair to them,” he said. “Unfortunately, the state has our hands tied.”

The supervisors agreed to speak with Berkheimer Tax Innovations, the township's tax collection contractor, about leniency in the first year of collecting this tax, and they will speak to the solicitor on whether exemptions are available.

Lenz said he was glad that the supervisors listened to his concerns, but he will need to see action before he will be satisfied.

“I'll believe it when I see it,” Lenz said.