SEA ISLE CITY – Mayor Leonard Desiderio believes Sea Isle City is in the best financial shape ever, according to his February State of the City address.
“I say this now with the utmost confidence – today the state of the city is better than ever. Our financial position is the best it has ever been,” he said in his Feb. 8 address, adding his proposed budget contains no tax hike and has a surplus of $8 million. He noted the surplus is 10 times the surplus in 2009 and the budget doesn’t have any funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
There also won’t be an increase in water and sewer rates for the ninth consecutive year, he said.
Desiderio said the zero-increase budget will not only maintain services, but improve upon them. He cited the new fishing pier and kayak launch at the Dealy Field complex, pickleball courts in the marina area, more lifeguard protection in the north end of the island, and duty crews for the fire department.
The mayor said Sea Isle continues to invest in its infrastructure, including “significant” paving projects, and maintenance and improvements putting the water and sewage systems “in the best shape they’ve ever been.”
This spring, Desiderio said, lagoon dredging on the bay side should be complete and in 2023 the island will get its second cycle of beach replenishment courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Capital projects planned in 2022 include a dog park at the north end of the island, improvements to public restrooms on the promenade and to the public works building at the base of the JFK Bridge; more bunk quarters for the fire department within the existing station; and an upgraded radio system for police, public works, and first responders. That radio system, he said, “will integrate us into the state system and provide for enhanced communication with the county, state police, and neighboring communities.”
Desiderio said flood mitigation remains one of the city’s highest priorities and he hopes the city can use a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a pump station to help drain the area between 44th and 47th streets. The city is in the design phase for another pump station for the area between 42nd and 44th streets.
“In addition to these projects, we’ll be aggressively pursuing joint flood mitigation projects with the county to address several other areas in the city, which have been identified in our master drainage plan,” Desiderio said.
The mayor also announced the city hired a new chief financial officer to replace the one who retired recently. In recent weeks, Sea Isle approached Ocean City to hire its chief financial officer, Frank Donato, on an interim basis, until it could find a candidate. Although Sea Isle council approved the arrangement, Ocean City Council voted 5-2 against it.
However, at last week’s meeting Desiderio said Jennifer McIver would take over the position.
“Jen comes with all of the credentials, a wealth of experience as a municipal CFO, and with outstanding and trusted references and recommendations. I’m certain that Jen will be a great addition to our senior staff, and will continue to lead the finance department well into the future,” he said.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff