Dennis De Klerk

Southampton Township Assessor

 

     The township Assessor of 16 years, Dennis De Klerk, began his tenure in 1989 when Robert Thompson hired him to replace retiring Assessor John Keller.  Dennis was working as the Assistant Assessor in Pemberton Township and was hoping to find an Assessor position as a supplement. 

 

     As it turns out Southampton’s appointment brought word that Tabernacle was seeking a part time Assessor.  Dennis was then appointed there in 1990.  Not much later, in 1991, Lumberton Township hired Dennis as their part time Assessor.  The “supplemental” work was suddenly full time.

 

     Dennis comes from a small pinelands town in Atlantic County called Buena Borough.  His roots in a rural, tightly knit community have served him well here.  Those same roots also allow him to comfortably call Southampton his new home town.  Dennis, his wife and three children moved here in 1998 from “busy” little Lumberton and find the laid back country atmosphere of Southampton completely agreeable.

 

     In his profession Dennis strives to make a complicated, and often frustrating, tax process a little more user friendly.  Residents will always find a willing ear and helpful response.  Dennis says that there are a variety of ways, such as Veteran Deductions, Senior Deductions, Disabled Deductions and Totally Disabled Veteran Exemptions, which may help to soften the aggressive bite of taxes.  The farmland assessment program, allowing for reduced acreage assessments, is a yearly qualification project that encourages a continuing interest in agricultural activity by Southampton’s farm community.

 

     In a related capacity, Dennis serves as the township Housing Officer and is most gratified by his work in this area.  Recently, through an extensive survey process managed by Mr. De Klerk, the township acquired over 50 credits to their state affordable housing requirement resulting in decreased pressure to provide high density affordable housing.

 

     As the years progress he hopes that his work brings merit to the Assessment profession, but more importantly, enriches Southampton Township – Dennis’ new home town.

 

Southampton Township Community Newsletter, Vol.  5, Issue 2 – December, 2005

E-Mail: ddksouthtax@comcast.com

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