Second vote on revised ordinance also increases the seasonal passes
OCEAN CITY — City Council has doubled the cost of most beach tags for next season, increasing the rate for the first time in more than a decade.
Council approved a revised fee ordinance on second reading after a public hearing at Thursday’s council meeting. It was unchanged since it was first proposed.
The cost of daily beach tags will increase from $5 to $10, weekly tags will rise from $10 to $20 and seasonal tags will increase from $20 and $25 to $30 and $35, with the lower prices for seasonal tags purchased before summer.
A number of residents commented on the fees after Chief Financial Officer Frank Donato reiterated they had not been raised in years. The seasonal tags have been at the same price for 11 years, the weekly tag prices have not changed since 2007 and the daily tags have been $5 for 20 years.
Donato made a longer presentation during the council meeting Oct. 6, explaining that while the rates have remained the same for years the cost of beach maintenance and other city services has continued to rise. He also made the point the beach tags are a pure user fee because those who use the beaches and buy the tags are paying for the upkeep, which not only includes maintenance such as cleaning, raking and trash collection but also lifeguard protection.
He pointed out the beach is the biggest draw for tourists and operating and maintaining seven miles of strand is a huge cost to the resort.
The city receives about $4 million annually from beach tag fees, although the 2022 season was down slightly to $3.933 million. With the new pricing structure, 2023 beach tag revenues are estimated at $5.2 million to $5.3 million.
The timing of the ordinance is to get the 2023 rates set in time for when beach tag sales begin around Thanksgiving.
Among the suggestions during public comment were to add fees on rental properties, which often buy a few sets of tags that are used over and over again by different renters throughout the season, lowering the age of free tags for children from 12 years old to 10 “because there is a lot of lying” about children’s ages, and better policing by beach taggers because so many people try to avoid them or adults intimidate them.
Some have argued for keeping the daily rate at $5 to keep it affordable for day-trippers and putting more of the burden on seasonal tags. Resident William Hooper said with the median cost of a home at $900,000, the seasonal tags could be raised and he would gladly pay more.
Councilman Terry Crowley Jr. said he didn’t have an issue with the tag prices being raised and was more concerned it hadn’t been addressed earlier.
As for the daily rate, he said, “I would challenge you to do anything for $10 a day.” He said the cost is reasonable for a day at the beach because they are expensive to maintain.
Councilman Jody Levchuk said he would vote for the new fees because the beach is a lot to manage, but noted, as he did at the prior council meeting, that he would have structured it differently, putting the burden on seasonal tags.
Councilman Bobby Barr said he completely agreed with the increase to keep up with the expenses and that if the city experienced a drop in beach-goers put off by the higher rates, they weren’t locked into it and could adjust for the next year.
“There is a reason our beaches win for the best beaches in New Jersey,” Barr said, noting the resort’s beaches are safe and clean and parents can feel that their children will be OK there.
Council voted 7-0 to approve the higher beach tag fees.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff