As in the last two years, Beach Haven’s 2015 municipal budget, introduced during the town council’s regular meeting Monday, March 9, is full of increases driven by Superstorm Sandy-related expenses. The total appropriation amounts to $11,149,618, which is a decrease of $171,606 from the previous year.
“That in itself, however, is confusing,” said Borough Manager Richard Crane.
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| Photo via The SandPaper The bayfront tennis courts in Beach Haven flooded during Superstorm Sandy. |
The amount to be raised locally by taxation is $7,559,973, which is an increase of $495,000 over last year. The municipal tax rate is 3 cents more than 2014, when it was about 39 cents per $100 assessed valuation.
Craned noted that it would be a “couple more years before that levels out.”
Changes from last year’s budget include an increase of $148,915 for salaries and wages; $59,766 for insurance expenses; $71,581 for pensions for clerical workers and police; as well as $163,235 for debt services.
However – “and this is where the budget gets a little funky,” Crane said – the town’s deferred charges for payments for Sandy-related expenses went down by $260,000.
Although Crane noted the town is taking on more debt than ever, he said Beach Haven is “now moving from the phase we had been immediately post-storm, which is paying for the emergency repairs,” and into the more long-term obligations. He said it is “necessary” because so much of the town’s infrastructure and buildings were “severely damaged.” Debt payments are expected to be included in the next few budget cycles.
Because the town no longer has access to a community disaster loan relief it was awarded from the state the last two years, Beach Haven is lacking $634,373 in revenue compared to 2014. The town is also anticipating $287,500 less from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In order to help offset that reduction in revenue, the borough is using an additional $213,462 from surplus.
The minimum appropriation to support the Beach Haven Library is set at $661,763. The total appropriation for the separate water utility budget is $1,775,750, which is a decrease of $8,075 from the previous budget.
“Much like the regular operating budget, the water utility budget also has been drastically affected by storm-related expenses,” Crane said.
An additional $150,000 in water rate charges, as well as an additional $150,000 in surplus, are anticipated in the budget to make up for lost revenue. The town is anticipating $100,000 less in FEMA proceeds and $225,575 less in CDL loan proceeds.
“As I said before, it’s a very interesting year,” Crane summarized.
An ordinance to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and to establish a cap bank was passed on first reading.
A public hearing for the budget will be held at the emergency operations center on Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m.
In other meeting news, the council approved an ordinance appropriating $5 million, as well as the issuance of $1,425,000 in bonds or notes, to finance part of the cost of the reconstruction of the municipal building. Assessments for the new borough hall as well as for the emergency operations building renovations have begun, Crane noted. Point Pleasant-based Robert Sebring has been hired as the architect for the projects. Sebring designed Barnegat Light’s borough hall and also wrote up the plans for Ship Bottom Borough Hall’s expected renovations, Mayor Nancy Taggert Davis told The SandPaper. A town meeting with Sebring will be held later when plans have been put into place, Councilman Don Kakstis said.
It was also noted that the Coral Street water main project is nearing completion. A temporary patch will be laid down this week, and a more permanent patch will be put in place next month. Crane said the project has been “very difficult” considering the contractor had encountered some unusual issues, such as having to work around a home that was “basically sitting in the middle of the street” as it was being raised or put on pilings, as well as the onslaught of “extreme cold” weather temperatures in February.
The borough manager noted that, due to a scheduling change, beach replenishment will be coming to the area earlier than anticipated. The project is expected to begin in Long Beach Township in April before making its way to Beach Haven at the height of the summer, near the end of July or beginning of August. Unfortunately, Crane said, some areas of the beach will be temporarily closed at that time.
“On a positive note, this project will be completed, most certainly, before the storm season hits in the fall, and into the winter of 2015 we’ll have much wider beaches and dunes,” he said.
Officials will be meeting with the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co., and other representatives of the project on March 17 at the Long Beach Township municipal building.
Other meeting business included the adoption of an ordinance amendment for alternate relief drivers or riders for peddling and soliciting, as well as adoption of an increased general penalty provision from no more than $1,250 to no more than $2,000.
An ordinance amendment that would permit private garages as an accessory use, with certain requirements, for all residential properties located in the borough, and the borough workers’ salary ordinance were both passed on reintroduction.
The council honored MaryLouise Bellingeri and Sandra Close, former members of the Beach Haven Board of Education, for their dedication to the elementary school.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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