CAPE MAY – In February, Cape May City Manager Neil Young presented a $31-million 2019 budget to City Council, of which $19.8 million comprised the general purpose budget with the remainder included in the three utility budgets covering water and sewer services, tourism and beaches.
Hit by a significant rise in recycling expense, the city manager’s budget contained an increase in the local purpose levy, moving the tax rate from $0.3500 to $0.3588. That nearly one-cent increase did not include additional personnel requested by the Fire Department.
Following the introduction, Fire Chief Alex Coulter made a presentation to council, winning support for the inclusion of three new positions, allowing one position for each of the department’s three shifts.
The budget formally introduced March 19 included the additional staffing for the Fire Department, along with funds to improve the city’s visitor and tourist transportation services. The increase brings the local tax levy to $0.3625 per $100 of assessed value.
The budget also moved $400,000 to capital expense. Those funds will be used for equipment to support the move to go in-house for recycling pick-up.
A presentation and public hearing on the budget will be held at the April 16 council meeting.
Cape May – The number one reason I didn’t vote for Donald Trump was January 6th and I found it incredibly sad that so many Americans turned their back on what happened that day when voting. I respect that the…
