LONGPORT – The Board of Commissioners Wednesday introduced the borough’s 2026 municipal budget with a 2.7-cents tax rate increase.
The $12.6 million budget is below the CAP increases allowed by state law for appropriations and the tax levy.
The borough increased its ratable base by $33 million this year, which will provide an additional $130,871 to cover the $8.5 million to be raised by taxing property owners.
On the appropriations side, the borough experienced a $9,117 drop in the cost of operating the Police Department and a $55,000 increase in covering Beach Patrol salary and wages. The cost of group health insurance increased $23,400 since last year. Utility costs increased $40,000.
The borough budgeted $401,000 for capital improvements, including $90,000 for new police vehicles, $40,000 for bayfront engineering and $75,000 for improvements to municipal buildings. Debt service or principal and interest on municipal bonds increased $494,833.
The borough will apply $1.061 million in surplus funds to reduce taxes, leaving $1.19 million in reserve for future years.
The borough will also collect $1.2 million in support of the Longport Public Library.
A public hearing and vote on adoption will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
In other business, Business Administrator Patrick Dellane announced the U.S. Postal Service would not be setting up a Post Office in Borough Hall. Apparently, the space the borough was willing to provide is too small for the Post Office’s needs.
Point Park construction and staging area.Borough Engineer Ed Dennis Jr. announced the work being done to create a park-like setting at the tip of Longport Point is on schedule. Commissioner Jim Ulmer said members of the community are anxious to start working on a ribbon cutting ceremony, which will likely be held as Memorial Day approaches. Ferriozzi Concrete Company, the contractor doing the work, is scheduled to complete the job mid- to late-April, Dennis said.
The installation of a concrete bicycle lane along the Atlantic Avenue seawall in the Point section will start the week after Easter. It will take about two weeks to complete the project.
Dennis also said the borough would meet with a contractor to discuss work needed to refurbish the Centennial Room on the second floor of Borough Hall.
Ulmer said the borough received only one bid from Professional Property Appraisers, Inc. of Barrington for the revaluation of all properties in the borough ordered by the Atlantic County Board of Taxation. The bid amount was much higher than anticipated. The tax assessor and Chief Financial Officer Jenna Kelly will review the information to determine next steps, he said.
The county ordered the municipality to conduct the revaluation, which requires a visit to all homes to determine assessed valuation.
Resident Phil Neri, secretary of the Beach Terrace Park organization, said the non-profit responsible for creating Point Park along the beach from 15th to 16th avenues, has raised $140,000 of the group’s $200,000 goal.The landscaper working on the park, Jaime Lloyd, will start installing plantings in April and May, he said, which will grab the attention of potential donors.
“There are more opportunities to reach our construction goal…as people return for the summer,” he said,
The group is also investigating ways to raise funds needed for maintenance of the park after it is built.
Beach Terrace Park has scheduled a dedication and ribbon cutting for 10 a.m. Independence Day, Saturday, July 4.
