VILLAS – Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel presented his annual State of the Township address at the Monday, Feb. 3, council meeting, highlighting town finances and projects completed last year.
Sippel talked about the council-approved 2024 budget of nearly $35 million, which was bolstered by more than $450,000 in tax dollars from new ratables. He said he and the council anticipate introducing the 2025 budget at the March 3 council meeting, projecting a 2-cent tax rate increase.
The mayor said that in 2024 more than $37 million was added to the ratables base, which is now nearly $3.8 billion. The tax collector’s office reported a tax collection rate of 99% for 2024. The township budgeted about $23 million to be collected in local purpose taxes, collected from 15,391 properties.
Sippel said Lower Township has the largest number of residents in the county who qualify for the Anchor Program and/or Property Tax Reimbursement Program, known as the senior freeze program. The township also has 714 non-taxable properties.
The township also received $40,426 from eligible cannabis sales from the lone license issued, and brought in $922,493 under the 3% occupancy tax. The township also received more than $1 million in grants in 2024.
DeBlasio and Associates, the township’s engineering firm, provided services on 12 capital projects, as well as doing planning, zoning and escrow reviews for 34 projects. Some of the capital improvements included paving and drainage projects, beach path upgrades, and park and playground upgrades. DeBlasio also provided assistance and design for several grants and loans for municipal projects.
The mayor also mentioned the $33 million New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Higbee Beach Project, which is located in Lower Township but is not using any township tax dollars.
Sippel outlined several changes to public safety, including the installation of automatic license plate readers to assist in the investigation of crimes. The Police Department acquired two new drones and a RAM Pro-Master utility van to be used as a remote command center and unmanned aviation systems operations vehicle.
Sixteen police officers were the subject of background investigations leading to licensing under the state-mandated police licensing program. Police licenses will be good for three years; approximately one-third of the department renews licenses each year.
Code Enforcement received 612 complaints and issued 54 summonses. The office also responded to 506 infractions related to dogs on the beach.
“Our goal is to obtain compliance through verbal warnings, first,” Sippel said, “then notices of violation and issuing summonses.”
The township appointed Gary Douglass as the new Office of Emergency Management coordinator, along with naming Katie Crecca as deputy coordinator. The OEM oversees a warming shelter at Seashore Community Church of the Nazarene every other month during the Code Blue season, as well as emergency shelters, if needed. It is also responsible for planning large-scale events, such as Escape the Cape and the July 4th fireworks event.
Sippel said the township entered into a shared services agreement with Wildwood Crest for municipal court. He said in 2024 the court handled between 45 and 75 cases per day. Lower Township, he said, saw a 19% decrease in criminal filings but a 52% increase in traffic filings. Wildwood Crest had a 6% increase in criminal filings and a 28% increase in traffic filings. The court handled 3,314 filings in 2024.
Public Works completed the reconstruction/paving of Wildwood and Bay avenues in 2024. A new DPW office and facility services building is currently being designed.
The Municipal Clerk’s office handled nearly 3,300 actions, including preparing 411 resolutions and 19 ordinances. The office also issued 111 marriage licenses, 971 dog licenses and 1,054 short-term rental licenses, as well as various other permits and licenses.
The Planning and Zoning Office handled the conditional approval of 19 use variance applications, 22 site plans and 21 subdivisions. In doing so, the office collected more than $250,000 in application and escrow fees. The Construction Office, meanwhile, issued 1,413 permits and updated an additional 114. The office performed 4,653 inspections and collected nearly $700,000 in permit fees.
The Bureau of Fire Safety completed 1,861 rental inspections, 629 business inspections, 548 sale inspections, and 148 permit inspections, which include tents, welding and gas exchange.
Sippel outlined various recreation projects and 2024 special events, including a youth benefit concert, the annual Veterans Day Parade, the 23rd 9/11 remembrance ceremony, the Easter egg hunt, trunk or treat, and haunted trail walk.
The mayor also highlighted a few administrative actions in 2024.
The governing body put the former rescue squad property up for public auction, bringing in $152,000 and getting the property back onto the tax rolls.
Work continued on improvements to Schellenger’s Landing traffic calming measures, including rumble strips and crosswalks with flashing beacons.
On Oct. 7, the governing body sponsored a Town Hall meeting at Lower Cape May Regional High School to present the proposed Department of Environmental Protection flood map changes and take public comment. The proposed regulations, officials said, would likely increase flood insurance rates, as well as create additional requirements for new construction and certain renovations.
In December the governing body established a full-time deputy township manager position, which was filled by Christina Lewis.
“It’s working out very well,” Sippel said.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
