“I want you to make money because I’m going to tax you.” Those are Joe Pepitone’s words in a clip featured in a Cumberland County GOP advertisement attacking the Democratic county commissioner candidate’s approach to taxes.

The party’s 30-second video, which aired on October 26, alleges that Democratic county commissioner candidate Joe Pepitone raised taxes in every office he has held. The advertisement captures a moment during a radio show where Pepitone laughs while telling a story about taxes.

Cumberland GOP’s Campaign Advertisement:

Following the release of the GOP’s advertisement, Vineland Today conducted an independent fact-check of Pepitone’s voting history regarding tax increases while he served as a Millville city commissioner.

During Pepitone’s tenure as a Millville commissioner, the city’s municipal tax levy increased in 2019 and 2021. The adopted 2019 budget set the levy at $19,177,721, up $487,668, or about 2.6%, from the 2018 adopted budget. The 2021 adopted budget set it at $20,090,000, up $175,755, or about 0.9%, from the prior-year figure recorded in that budget.

The 2019 adoption record lists Pepitone among the commissioners who voted yes on April 16. His final vote on the 2021 budget was not recorded. These figures measure the total amount raised for municipal purposes—not the change in every homeowner’s tax bill—and do not establish the GOP’s broader claim that he raised taxes in every office he held.

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