Avalon Tax Rate

Avalon's budget increases, tax rate drops
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Thursday, March 30, 2006
Updated: Thursday, March 30, 2006

AVALON — The local government will collect $1.2 million more from taxpayers this year, but a revaluation that rocketed Avalon's worth to $8.5 billion means the tax rate will drop.

With a tax rate of 14.1 cents per $100 of assessed value, the owner of $1 million home here will pay $1,410 in local purpose taxes.

Avalon Chief Financial Officer James Craft said the budget includes $500,000 to reduce its debt service on beach-replenishment projects and other loans.

Avalon's ratable base grew from $5.5 billion to $8.5 billion following a revaluation that went on the books in January.

The budget also includes a $264,000 increase from last year for the municipal library, Craft said.

In 2005, Avalon began paying for its own municipal library after separating from the county library system.

But as Avalon's ratable base grew this year, so did the new municipal library's funding, which is based on those ratables and determined by state law, Craft said.

As a result, the library is receiving more money than it needs, said Councilman Charles Covington.

“It just doesn't need that much money and probably isn't going to need it in the future either,” Covington said.

Excess money would go in a surplus but would be reserved for library projects, Covington said.

Covington said Avalon has suggested that state legislators change that law to take into account municipalities that collect more than their libraries require.

“It's going to have to be something that's going to take a lot of work to change the current legislation,” he said.

Also in the budget, salaries and wages increased $211,000, or 4.5 percent, from last year.

The borough is also anticipating it will receive $840,000 by selling beach tags this year. The amount — an increase of almost $60,000 from last year — is based on the price of beach tags being raised by $2.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:
BIanieri@pressofac.com

Sand trap

Workers will disassemble a 150-ton excavator to free it from grip of sea and sand in Avalon
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Thursday, March 30, 2006
Updated: Thursday, March 30, 2006

AVALON — As the tide crept closer and closer, workers tried Wednesday to free a 150-ton piece of construction equipment from a 12-foot-deep crater on the beach at Townsends Inlet.

Like an outstretched hand clasping a ledge, an excavator's gigantic mechanical arm tried to push its heavy metal body from the crater.

The trouble started Tuesday afternoon when the huge machine — worth about $1.2. million new — began to sink into the sand.

The excavator was being used to build a new rock seawall. The area where they are working was a late addition made by the Army Corps of Engineers to its plans. The ground there had not been tested to see if it would withstand the weight of the excavator.

Unable to extricate the machine Tuesday, workers left it there overnight. At high tide, seawater filled the hole.

During low tide Wednesday, workers repaired the engine in the hope that with the help of some earth movers, they could free the behemoth.

The spectacle drew dozens of onlookers, but one common sentiment: There is no way they're going to get that thing out of there.

“They'll never get it out,” said John Peltier, of Sea Isle City.

And they didn't.

As high tide approached, salt water trickled and then streamed into the crater, made wider and deeper in the attempts to free it. Workers piled makeshift dunes on the beach to keep the water at bay.

By Wednesday afternoon, nature had won — again.

The machine was just one outstretched mechanical arm in a sandy pool of brown-gray water. Its wheels, body and cab were submerged.

“It wasn't a good day,” said Alex Dick, the project manager for Jay Cashman Inc., which has been constructing a seawall in Avalon's northern end.

“The soil just wasn't suited to support a machine like this,” he said.

An Army Corps spokesman could not be reached Wednesday night.

Avalon Public Works Director Harry deButts said the project was on schedule to finish by mid-April.

“This is really a tough nut,” he said.

Marvin Leonard, a retired construction supervisor who lives in Avalon, spent Wednesday afternoon looking through binoculars from his minivan, parked by the toll bridge on Ocean Drive.

“If they get the lift working, they can push that up in the air … I don't know. They ain't moving it yet,” he said.

“Each time the tide comes in, she'll sink more.”

Avalon and Cashman officials said nobody was injured when the excavator began to sink Tuesday. The fuel inside was contained and there was no environmental damage, they said.

But the machine?

That's a different story.

Dick said they will have to disassemble the excavator — including its bucket and counterweight — to remove it from the beach.

“In this business, you can expect the unexpected,” Dick said.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com

Avalon's Tax Rate

Avalon's budget increases, tax rate drops
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Thursday, March 30, 2006
Updated: Thursday, March 30, 2006

AVALON — The local government will collect $1.2 million more from taxpayers this year, but a revaluation that rocketed Avalon's worth to $8.5 billion means the tax rate will drop.

With a tax rate of 14.1 cents per $100 of assessed value, the owner of $1 million home here will pay $1,410 in local purpose taxes.

Avalon Chief Financial Officer James Craft said the budget includes $500,000 to reduce its debt service on beach-replenishment projects and other loans.

Avalon's ratable base grew from $5.5 billion to $8.5 billion following a revaluation that went on the books in January.

The budget also includes a $264,000 increase from last year for the municipal library, Craft said.

In 2005, Avalon began paying for its own municipal library after separating from the county library system.

But as Avalon's ratable base grew this year, so did the new municipal library's funding, which is based on those ratables and determined by state law, Craft said.

As a result, the library is receiving more money than it needs, said Councilman Charles Covington.

“It just doesn't need that much money and probably isn't going to need it in the future either,” Covington said.

Excess money would go in a surplus but would be reserved for library projects, Covington said.

Covington said Avalon has suggested that state legislators change that law to take into account municipalities that collect more than their libraries require.

“It's going to have to be something that's going to take a lot of work to change the current legislation,” he said.

Also in the budget, salaries and wages increased $211,000, or 4.5 percent, from last year.

The borough is also anticipating it will receive $840,000 by selling beach tags this year. The amount — an increase of almost $60,000 from last year — is based on the price of beach tags being raised by $2.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:
BIanieri@pressofac.com

Stone Harbor Bulkhead

Stone Harbor wants money from county fund to fix marina bulkhead
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, March 29, 2006

STONE HARBOR — The borough wants to replace and raise the bulkhead — a popular fishing location — near the bayside marina on 81st Street.

To do so, it is turning to Cape May County and a new program to fund municipal projects through county tax dollars.

Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters said the borough is applying to the county to fund about half of the $900,000 project.

Walters said the bulkhead would be replaced and raised about 2 ½ feet.

Walters said a larger bulkhead will help prevent flooding there during severe weather and high tides.

It would also act as a table-sized barrier from the bay for people who fish there, she said.

“We realized we were going to have to do something. This project came at the perfect time,” Walters said.

Cape May County's 16 municipalities are eligible for a combined $3.8 million of surplus funds to towns to help fund public projects.

Middle Township, for example, has expressed interest in using county funding to enlarge its bike path.

Walters said the marina work involves acquiring the required environmental permits. And Borough Council would also have to vote on spending its share of the money. Councilman Barry Mastrangelo said the marina area becomes a popular summertime spot.

“It's used by everyone in the county, as well as local people and the tourists coming to town. A nice day in the summer time, that place will be lined with people fishing,” Mastrangelo said.

Earlier this month, Cape May County Freeholders approved the 2006 Municipal Public Improvements Pooled Financing Program. The funding to municipalities will not be awarded until this summer.

County officials have said the program allows the county to return some of its surplus without further cutting the tax rate. Officials have said cutting taxes too deep will hurt future budgets because state laws put an incremental cap on the amount a county can raise taxes each year.

Also in Stone Harbor: Walters said the repaving of 96th Street may finish in a week, placing work almost a month ahead of schedule due to advantageous weather.

Lanes entering and leaving Stone Harbor have been alternately shut down, and downtown traffic detoured from the work.

Walters said the rest of the so-called Gateway Project, which includes streetlights and landscaping to the 300 block of 96th Street, is scheduled to finish by Memorial Day.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com

Stone Harbor Taxes

No school tax hike in Stone Harbor
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Friday, March 24, 2006
Updated: Friday, March 24, 2006

STONE HARBOR — The school district's proposed $2.3 million budget will keep the school-tax rate stable.

The 2006-07 tax rate will remain at 5.65 cents per $100 of assessed value.

A homeowner with a $500,000 property will pay about $282 in school taxes.

“We don't have any surprises. We don't have any issues that were not anticipated,” said David Rauenzahn, the chief school administrator for Stone Harbor and Avalon.

“All existing programs are being maintained. All personnel are being maintained.”

Stone Harbor, a K-8 school district, expects to have 92 students enrolled in the fall.

Rauenzahn said the district plans to continue its five-year facilities plan, which will include new carpeting, sidewalk repair and some window replacements this school year.

The school budget goes before a public vote on April 18.

Avalon Taxes

Avalon officials cite revaluation for 1-cent drop in school taxes
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Friday, March 24, 2006
Updated: Friday, March 24, 2006

AVALON — Avalon's school budget grew 3.1 percent, but the tax rate will drop 1-cent following a recent revaluation that made Avalon properties more expensive.

The $3.6 million budget means taxpayers will pay 3.4 cents per $100 of assessed value for school taxes.

A person with a home valued at $500,000 will pay about $171 in school taxes.

Avalon, with its valuable shore properties, underwent a revaluation that took effect this year.

The ratable base grew from $5.5 billion to $8.5 billion, according to Avalon's tax assessor's office.

Chief School Administrator David Rauenzahn said spending increased as Avalon pays debt service on the new school library, which opened last year. The school also has set money aside for capital improvements, including security upgrades, a sprinkler system and fencing at the school, he said.

“In spite of opening a new facility and the capital projects the board and the community want to achieve at the site, we have those budgeted and we were still able to bring it down a penny,” Rauenzahn said.

The district, which runs a K-8 program, projects it will have 83 students this fall.

Rauenzahn said Avalon will take out advertisements to get more enrollment in the borough's tuition program for out-of-town students. Out of town students pay $2,800 per year.

Avalon and neighboring Stone Harbor both accept tuition students.

Avalon has six tuition students; Stone Harbor has 15, said Rauenzahn, who serves as the chief school administrator for both districts.

Schools in island towns such as Avalon, Stone Harbor and Sea Isle City have few year-round residents and even fewer school-aged children.

Accepting tuition students has become more important following a state budget cap law that limits administrative spending and threatens schools with low enrollments.

“The school's got a good reputation, nice, small class size and quality education. Good teachers, programs, curriculum, test scores — they're all very positive, and that's what many parents are looking for,” Rauenzahn said.

The school budget faces a public vote April 18.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com

Middle Voters to Decide

Middle voters to decide on purchase of firehouse site
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Thursday, March 16, 2006
Updated: Thursday, March 16, 2006

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Some Middle Township voters will have a say on whether their fire district will buy land for a new firehouse in Cape May Court House.

Voters in Fire District No. 1 on March 30 will decide whether to approve a $1.8 million bond to buy land on which officials later plan to build a new firehouse.

Fire Commissioner David Blood said officials will use the bond to purchase land about one-tenth of a mile away from the current fire house on Boyd Street.

“We have pretty much maxed out the use of this building for what is required for a modern fire department,” Blood said of the Boyd Street fire house, which was built in the 1920s.

Blood said the facility is too small.

“Trucks have grown, they've gotten bigger. As a result, the engine room designed for trucks in the 70s and 60s is inadequate,” he said.

He also said moving locations would make it easier for fire trucks to leave the building. Boyd Street is narrow and can get congested during the day.

Fire District No. 1 includes areas in Cape May Court House, Swainton, Mayville, Burleigh, Dias Creek, Avalon Manor and Stone Harbor Manor.

The fire districts do not correlate to voting districts in the township. For residents who don't know to which fire district they belong, that information appears on their tax bills, Blood said.

If voters approve the bond, fire officials will purchase three tracts of land, including the Avalon Carpet, Tile and Flooring Center on Hand Avenue. The company is currently constructing a building in Rio Grande.

The public vote addresses only securing the land on which to build a fire house, Blood said; it involves no money for a fire house.

“This is all future oriented. We try to make sure what we do will hold together for the next 50, 60 years,” Blood said. “Without the property, we can't go forward. Without property, we can't even go for grants.”

The cost of building a new firehouse will be subject to a later vote, Blood said. Blood said he hopes that grants and the sale of the existing firehouse can cover some of that cost.

Meanwhile, the municipality may use the firehouse to expand Township Hall, which is next door. Mayor Nathan Doughty said it could be used for police and other township agencies.

“It's a perfect fit. Are we involved in it? No way,” Doughty said. “Let them (the voters) make the call and then we'll go from there.”

The vote will take place Thursday, March 30 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Cape May Court House fire station on Boyd Street.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:BIanieri@pressofac.com

Recreation Projects

Freeholders approve fund to help towns with recreation projects
By W.F. KEOUGH Staff Writer, (609) 463-6710
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, March 15, 2006

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — County freeholders adopted an ordinance Tuesday that creates a $3.8 million pool of funds to help towns improve their marinas, bike paths and public parks.

The freeholder ordinance also provides another $200,000 to eligible artists.

The additional $4 million won't increase the county's tax rate, but it will boost the budget another $4 million, to $128.3 million. Freeholders officially adopted the amended budget Tuesday.

The 2006 Municipal Public Improvements Pooled Financing Program had its first taker Tuesday.

“We're ready to submit our plans,” Middle Township Mayor Nate Doughty told freeholders.

Doughty said he was seeking about $135,000 from the fund to extend the township's bike path from Goshen Road to Shellbay Avenue. Doughty and the township will have to wait: the funding won't actually be awarded until August.

Officials say everyone will have a crack at getting some of the money. The county has sent application packages to the 16 municipalities explaining how it will award the funds.

The county's funding program will help towns complete public projects such as parks, marinas and other recreational projects.

The program will allow the county to effectively return some of its ballooning surplus without further cutting the tax rate, already a record low 17.1 cents per $100 of equalized value.

The county has been careful not to label its largesse as grants in the legislation it used to create the plan. That's because of concerns from state officials. But that's what the plan is, said County Administrator Steven O'Connor.

Officially, the funding will be provided through “interlocal agreements.” The artist funding will be available through the county's division of culture and heritage. The money will be provided on a weighted system based on how much towns contribute to the county's tax levy.

Using that system, Ocean City, with a $7.7 billion ratable base, would be eligible for nearly $929,000. Woodbine, with just under $58 million in ratables, would qualify for $50,000.

To e-mail W.F. Keough at The Press:WKeough@pressofac.com

Avalon Beaches

Sand ho! Avalon begins work to replenish eroded beaches
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Press of Atlantic City
Published: Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Updated: Tuesday, March 7, 2006

AVALON — The ocean holds many treasures, including the better part of some of Avalon's beaches.

Avalon has been stockpiling sand on beaches between 18th and 26th streets.

Avalon officials also expect a dredging operation to start within two weeks as part of an effort to restore severely eroded beaches in the borough's northern end. In many places there, beach access is closed.

Trucks are moving 60,000 cubic yards of sand from the southern end of the borough and stockpiling it between 18th and 26th streets, where it is needed, said engineer Tom Thornton of the firm Hatch Mott MacDonald.

About 2,000 to 2,500 cubic yards are being moved per day, Thornton said.

Back passing sand is the first — and smallest — beach replenishment that will take place this month.

The dredging will provide about six times more sand than the back passing.

“Once they start, it should only take two or three weeks to finish,” Thornton said of the dredging.

Joan Hunter, director of the Avalon Chamber of Commerce, said the condition of the beach is of no small concern to business owners.

If not remedied, it could discourage vacationers, a prospect not overlooked in a summer economy such as Avalon's.

“Everybody in the borough is aware (that) if we don't have beaches, it's going to hurt businesses. It's going to hurt everything,” Hunter said.

“The borough was working on (the issue) all along, which we were aware of,” she said.

Until last month, borough officials were unsure whether they could find a dredging company to take the project. They had considered back-up plans, including trucking in sand from off the island, if a dredge was unavailable before the summer.

Avalon eventually entered into a $2.8 million contract with dredging company Weeks Marine to pump 350,000 cubic yards of sand between Ninth and 18th streets.

“I've known for a long time that the availability of dredges was going to get tight because of the Gulf Coast,” said Avalon Public Works Director Harry deButts.

Luckily, a dredging company that happened to be working on a project in Brigantine became available, deButts said.

“Having the ability to tie into the Weeks dredge coming out of Brigantine was a godsend to us,” he said.

As Avalon waited to find out whether they could hire a dredging company, officials formulated back-up plans, which deButts said could have adequately stocked the beaches but is not as efficient and would cost more per cubic yard.

While the uncertainty of a dredging project lingered, the Chamber of Commerce fielded questions about the beaches.

“I can't tell you how many phone calls we get here asking what's happening with the beach replenishment,” Hunter said.

Storms damaged beaches in the fall last year and caused Avalon to cut off beach access at many locations in the northern end.

Before Memorial Day last year, a late spring storm also damaged portions of the beach, and sections of the beaches were closed as well.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:
BIanieri@pressofac.com

Tax-rate Increase in Stone Harbor

Stone Harbor budget plan calls for 1 cent tax-rate increase
By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Saturday, March 4, 2006
Updated: Saturday, March 4, 2006

STONE HARBOR — Borough Council will introduce its budget Tuesday with a tax-rate increase of 1 cent per $100 of assessed property value, borough officials said.

The increase means a person with a $1 million home will pay $100 more in local purpose taxes than last year.

Last year, the municipal tax rate increased more than 3½ cents per $100 of assessed value, after factoring in a recent revaluation. Last year's tax rate was about 18.6 cents per $100 of assessed value — or $1,860 in local purpose taxes for a person with a
$1 million home.

The $10.2 million 2006 budget will be introduced at a council meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday , with public comment and final adoption slated for April. A line-item budget will be available early next week, officials said.

Stone Harbor holds budget presentations before they officially introduce their budgets. Mayor Suzanne Walters said this gives the public advance notice of their taxes.

“If there's an outcry, if people didn't like one thing or another, it's better to have it out there,” she said.

Among the spending increases this year is more than $80,000 for the volunteer fire department's budget.

Last year, Borough Council voted to pay volunteer firefighters stipends as much as $250 per month based on their participation at fire calls, drills, training and meetings. Borough officials said it was done to retain volunteers.

“There are a lot of things that got added in this year that were not in last year's budget,” Walters said. “Chief among them is the stipends we're now paying for the fire company. But it's still a lot less expensive for us doing that than to actually have a paid fire company.”

The borough also intends to use $819,000 of its $1.8 million surplus.

Also in Stone Harbor, Walters said road construction on 96th Street for the Gateway Project is ahead of schedule due to good weather. Borough officials have said they hoped to finish the project by Memorial Day and before summer vacationers arrive.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press: BIanieri@pressofac.com

Avalon Floatilla

Avalon law takes aim at Floatilla

By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, (609) 463-6713
Published: Thursday, March 2, 2006
Updated: Thursday, March 2, 2006

AVALON — The annual summer “Floatilla” party draws rafts, bikinis and beer to the waterways of Avalon.

It also drew widespread concern last year, and borough officials have said the event was getting out of hand.

In July 2005 — its fifth year — the Floatilla attracted more than 1,000 participants to house parties and inflatable rafts near the 21st Street bridge.

The party also attracted the attention of borough officials after a Philadelphia man jumped from the bridge and was never seen resurfacing.

Police, rescue divers, lifeguards and K-9s searched for hours believing he may have drowned. He was alive but did not report to police until later that night.

The incident prompted Avalon Police Chief Stephen Sykes to say last year that police would map out a plan to deal with the partygoers next time.

Last week, Borough Council introduced a law creating a permitting process for special events that not only involves borough property but also those involving Avalon police or public works employees.

The Floatilla party, a conglomeration of rubbing inner tubes in Avalon's bayside, would be one of the law's primary targets. It could end the event in Avalon.

An application for a special event would need to be filed through the borough clerk's office, and then police, public works and recreation can have their say.

Any special event that involves alcohol consumption would need Borough Council approval.

The proposed ordinance will be considered for final passage after a public comment session at 7:45 p.m. March 8 in Borough Hall.

Avalon Councilman Joseph Tipping said he, a fire policeman, was among others involved in the search for the man.

“The Floatilla thing has become so popular with everybody it has become a safety issue. Who would be held responsible if something went wrong? The borough,” Tipping said.

“I have no objection to people floating around and having a beer, but I do have an objection to the way it was last year,” he said. “You want people to have a great time and come down here, but you don't want other people to abuse property (or compromise) safety.”

Last year, police also issued several citations for noise and open consumption of alcohol.

To e-mail Brian Ianieri at The Press:

BIanieri@pressofac.com