Cannabis fiscal data request
Dear Clerk,
My name is Giovanna Romero Sarubbi. I am a doctoral student and public finance researcher at Rutgers University-Camden. I am researching the legalization of recreational cannabis and its impact on NJ municipal public finance, while collecting data on related revenue sources.
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
1. local cannabis transfer tax,
2. cannabis user tax,
3. social responsibility revenue, and
4. any additional sources of local revenue, such as cannabis application fees.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Giovanna Romero Sarubbi
1. local cannabis transfer tax, Please see below
2. cannabis user tax, Please see below
3. social responsibility revenue, and None
4. any additional sources of local revenue, such as cannabis application fees. Letter of support fee is $2,000
The answers to items above can be found in our Township ordinances available on our Twp Website (www.shamong.net) type in cannabis in the search field. I have cut and pasted a portion below:
153-11 Imposition of cannabis transfer tax and user tax.
The Township of Shamong hereby imposes and shall collect certain local option taxes on cannabis business activity as follows:
A. A municipal transfer tax is hereby imposed on the receipts of each sale by a licensed cannabis business operating in the Township of Shamong at the rate of 2% of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis cultivator, 2% of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis manufacturer, 1% of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis wholesaler, and 2% of the receipts from each sale by a cannabis retailer.
B. A municipal user tax is hereby imposed, at the equivalent transfer tax rates, on any concurrent license holder operating more than one cannabis establishment. The user tax shall be imposed on the value of each transfer or use of cannabis or cannabis items not otherwise subject to the transfer tax imposed pursuant to this section, from the license holder's establishment that is located in the municipality to any of the other license holder's establishments, whether located in the municipality or another municipality.
Susan D. Onorato, RMC/CMR
Township Administrator & Clerk
105 Willow Grove Road
Shamong, NJ 08088
609-268-2377 ext. 301
609-268-2701 fax
This e-mail message from the Township of Shamong is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
Dear Sue Onorato,
Thank you for getting back to me. I am writing to clarify the data that I need from Shamong Township.
I am looking for the annual retail cannabis-related revenue data for your municipality from 2021-2025, if available.
Yours sincerely,
Giovanna Romero Sarubbi
There has been NO cannabis related revenue from 2021 - 2025 other than the funds received for the letter of support funds we have received to date of $12,000 for the time frame.
Susan D. Onorato, RMC/CMR
Township Administrator & Clerk
105 Willow Grove Road
Shamong, NJ 08088
609-268-2377 ext. 301
609-268-2701 fax
This e-mail message from the Township of Shamong is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
Dear Sue Onorato,
Thank you for clarifying this. I have one last question. Could you break down how the 12,000 has been paid? For instance, was it $2000 on 2021; $3000 in 2022 and so on? Thank you very much for your help!
Best regards,
Giovanna Romero Sarubbi
$5,000 - 2021
$4,000 - 2022
$2,000 - 2023
$4,000 - 2024
$2,000 - 2025
Your OPRA request has been closed out.
Susan D. Onorato, RMC/CMR
Township Administrator & Clerk
105 Willow Grove Road
Shamong, NJ 08088
609-268-2377 ext. 301
609-268-2701 fax
This e-mail message from the Township of Shamong is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.