Crest Approves GWTIDA Increase

WILDWOOD CREST — Borough Commissioners approved an ordinance that increases the tourism development fees charged by the Greater Wildwood Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) during the Wed. March 7 meeting.
The new fee structure calls for an across-the-board increase of 10 percent, with the exception of condominiums and apartments used for tourism lodging. The fee increase for condominiums is $100, with apartments costing an additional $50 more than in previous years.
Before approving the ordinance, however, Borough Administrator Kevin Yecco suggested the commissioners discuss the ordinance.
“There is an agreement that was supplied by GWTIDA for consideration by this governing body, along with the cities of Wildwood and North Wildwood that was to contain language that would deal with those fees as they are collected and ultimately dispersed,” said Yecco. “Some of the information in the agreement needs to be modified or revised and the solicitor is working on that.”
Yecco suggested that the board make any type of award from the borough contingent upon a fully executed agreement among the three municipalities that participate in GWTIDA.
A deadline of March 14 was suggested, otherwise rendering the ordinance null and void.
Yecco said the agreement was still a work in progress.
“I did revise it this morning,” said Borough Solicitor Doreen Corino, noting the borough received the agreement late in the day March 6. “A revised copy will be circulated today.”
A delay in voting on the ordinance would create difficulty in billing.
“If you’re going to include the mercantile license in billing, the changes sought by this new ordinance, any further delay beyond this meeting would create a virtual impossibility in having those out, and collected,” said Yecco.
The due date for bills to be paid is May 1st.
“Since March 14 is our deadline for our borough, then I think we should send a notice to the mayor and the administrator of the other two towns indicating that we can’t go past it, no matter what,” said Mayor Carl Groon.