Lower’s Tax Rate May Increase, Mercantile License Shortfall Cited

VILLAS – The 2017 Lower Township budget was introduced to Council at its Feb. 6 meeting. 
The proposed budget was summarized by Administrator James Ridgway. He began by saying that a 1.8-cent tax increase would be necessary to make up for a $70,000 shortfall in mercantile license revenue from last year. 
The 2016 municipal tax rate was 55.6 cents per $100 of valuation. Thus, if the budget is approved in March, the new rate would be 57.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Ridgway also cited a $750,000 payment that was made to the county to fund the new county-wide public safety dispatch system for Lower Township.
Ridgway anticipates that the savings by Lower Township’s participation in the dispatch system for 2018 will result in a zero percent tax increase next year.
Ridgway stated “We are well below the legal spending cap” for 2017. Ridgway added that the municipality also plans to use about $2.5 million of the township’s $6.6 million surplus to keep taxes down for 2017.
He stated that ratables have increased by about $10 million since last year and that the financial health of the township is very strong. 
This presentation is not a vote on the budget. There will be a public hearing and initial vote on the budget on March 20 at 7 p.m.; the proposal will be available on the township website for review by residents before the hearing.
New Officers Sworn
The township celebrated the swearing of three new police officers into the ranks of their brother and sister officers.
Officer Kenneth Walker, James Mathis, and William Kocis completed their 26 weeks of training at the Cape May County Police Academy and were ushered into their new careers by Mayor Erik Simonsen, who wished them ”good luck and may God bless all three of you.”
Ban Vehicles from Beach
In other business, an ordinance that amends the township code regarding beaches bans motorized vehicles of any sort from the beaches by stating that “the operation of any motor vehicle with the exception of township-authorized vehicles, including automobile, motorcycle or truck or any similar type of conveyance driven by power, and shall include the transporting and/or launching of motorized watercraft on any of the beaches of the township” will be prohibited.
Feasibility Study
Another resolution approved issued a Request for Proposal seeking an outside contractor to conduct a feasibility study for the idea to build an aquatic club, possibly on the grounds of the County Airport.
This study would seek to identify capital costs and maintenance costs to determine if the township could install two pools.
One pool would be for swimming; the other would be for therapy.
The concept is expected to serve the needs of township youth in providing a venue for recreation and water sports, while also providing a nearby venue for seniors and others who need regular physical therapy to remain healthy and mobile.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.