AVALON – The Borough Council introduced a no-tax-increase 2024 budget on Wednesday, March 13. The $35.8 million budget also does not add any long-term general obligation debt.
Mayor John McCorristin praised the budget, saying, “This budget advances municipal services, maintains a healthy surplus, addresses critical needs and pays down $9.5 million in short-term debt and capital projects.”
The municipal tax rate will stay at $0.206 per $100 of valuation. The rate is the lowest in Cape May County and one of the lowest in the state.
The budget uses $4.9 million in general fund surplus, along with $1.9 million in library surplus funding. Avalon has maintained its own public library separate from the county system for the last 14 years.
Capital projects listed for 2024 include a sand back-passing project, a major rehabilitation of Bay Park Marina, two new tennis courts at the 8th Street recreation complex, investments in the beach patrol building and additional access mats for beach accessibility. The borough will also fund its annual road projects and invest in municipal bulkhead repairs.
Avalon will begin a state-mandated lead water service identification and replacement program, which the borough will fund with a four-year quarterly surcharge on each water line.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included a typo in a quote from Avalon’s mayor. He used the word services, not sewers.