By using a dedicated “rewards” card while dining or shopping at participating loca
l businesses, a deduction on your property taxes will be applied based on how much you spend and the participating business’s discounted amount. Not a property owner? Don’t live in the Borough of Point Pleasant? No Problem! While only local businesses can be a part of the program, there are no such requirements for shoppers. Renters and anyone living in our surrounding area that frequent Point Pleasant merchants can have a card and instead of a deduction on your property taxes, a rebate check will be mailed at the end of the year.
The Borough will be collaborating with FinCredit Inc., a third-party program administrator, and will be able to offer this program at virtually no cost to its taxpayers. Program fees will be paid for by the participating businesses, not the Borough, and are expected to be just a few cents per dollar. FinCredit, Inc. will provide all required software and hardware, website and enrollment information, set up and support for merchants, handle transaction processing and provide customer service. “We congratulate Mayor Sabosik and the entire Borough Council for their “think-out-of-the-box” approach to economic development. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to assist the Borough of Point Pleasant with the launching and the ongoing administration of their Point Boro Bucks Property Tax Reward Program,” said Carmine De Falco, President and CEO of FinCredit Inc.
According to Mayor 
Robert A. Sabosik, “The program will promote local shopping while allowing card holders the opportunity to reduce their property tax bill. Shoppers will earn property tax credits every time they provide a Point Boro Bucks Card at the time of purchase at a participating merchant. Those credits will be applied to their property tax bill, or in the case of a renter or out of towner, a rebate check would be issued. Further, you are not limited to only one card per household. Mom, Dad and the kids can each have a card that is linked up to your block and lot.”
Mayor Sabosik continued that “The Borough Council and I want to strengthen our business district. We want to keep money local. We want to help our taxpayers. With this program, we are achieving all of those goals. As I stated when this program was introduced, we are always looking at ways to save taxpayers money and this is certainly a win, not only for the taxpayers but for the business community as well.”
Council President Joe Furmato said “We would be remiss if we did not thank the four original sponsors of our Point Boro Bucks Program. Because of them, all the cards that were ordered are free to whomever wants them. Investor’s Bank, Clark’s Landing, Manasquan Bank and Travelsmiths each chipped in and sponsored the program, providing 10,000 cards without using tax dollars.”
Council President Furmato further went on to explain that “This cooperation was possible because of th
e increased communication between Borough Hall and the Chamber of Commerce. What you have here is a Borough Government that is actively helping and promoting the local economy. This is going to make the Borough of Point Pleasant an attraction for businesses to want to set up shop here.”
Chamber of Commerce President Jim VanNostrand stated that the cooperation between the business community and Borough Hall recently has been very good and this program is proof of that. “When you have a local government that is actively supporting local businesses, everyone wins. This is the type of environment where you want to live, shop and run a business.”
Councilman Michael Thulen Jr. stated that “We have a very strong inaugural class of businesses to kick off the program. We have a wide range of merchants from restaurants to mechanics. If your favorite Point Boro business isn’t participating yet, make sure you ask them to join.” Councilman Thulen revealed who the first businesses to join where. “I’m very excited to announce these local entrepreneurs to kick off Point Boro Bucks:”
Arugula Restaurant, Bridge Avenue Barber Shop, Bubbakoos Burritos, DeFelice Auto Sales & Service, Idle Hour Restaurant and Bar, iMobileRepairs.com, Jersey Shore Wellness Center, Joe Spano’s Tomato Pies, Klotz’s Kitchen, MonAlyssa Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Northeast Sign & Lighting, Inc., Onsite Computer Doctor, Pizza Express, PJ’s Family Auto Care, Plethora Boutique, Point PeaPoddery, Point Pizza By Pudgy, Shore Styles Salon, Skye Couture, Soothing Hands Therapeutic Massage, Swift Lift LLC, The Grenville, Timeless Creations by Cindy and WH Wager Home Builders LL.
Borough Administrator Frank Pannucci 
explained that the cards, which are free, can be picked up at any of the following six locations in Point Pleasant; Borough Hall, The Point Pleasant Borough Chamber of Commerce, Investors Bank, Clark’s Landing, Manasquan Bank and Travelsmiths. When you pick up your card, you will go to the website on the back of the card and register it online. Participating businesses will have a Point Boro Bucks Proud Participant window cling on their front doors, but for a list of participating businesses, one should go to the “Boro Bucks” section of our website at www.ptboro.com and follow the appropriate links. Businesses who want to register should go to the same site and follow the links for businesses. Additionally, there is a Frequently Asked Questions link for those residents and businesses who are looking for more information on how the program works.