WILDWOOD CREST – Wildwood Crest passed its 2023 municipal budget April 5 after a public hearing, with no public comment given.
The roughly $27.5 million budget included a slightly under 1-cent tax rate increase.
Municipal Auditor Mike Garcia, of the Ford Scott & Associates accounting firm, said the budget being considered April 5 was the same budget that was introduced a month ago.
Garcia said the reason for the increase was primarily due to increased health care costs. He said the borough would pay an additional $451,000 in 2023. Pension costs would also increase by $176,000 this year.
Garcia said the budget is under the two state-mandated budget caps, including the 3.5% spending cap and the levy cap. He said the borough is $734,000 below the spending cap and $1.3 million below the levy cap.
