From Commissioner Nietubicz                                                        

Offers some insight to what’s going on at The Point

This year’s budget works out to a 1.4-cent tax increase, which the county will probably round to 1.5.  Our school tax has dropped from 1 cent to zero cents because we got $200 more in state aid than the school bill was.  So, the borough portion of this property tax will be a net of a ½ cent increase.

A “library” and a “county” tax will get added to this figure to produce our total property tax.  We do not know those numbers yet and the estimate is about 2 cents.  All of this says that our property tax increase will be approximately 2 ½ cents.

Please notice the words “preliminary” and “estimate” and “approximately.”  We know what the Borough needs.  We are not sure what the county levies will be, at this point.

I am convinced that Trenton is trying to run small municipalities out of business.  The current effort sees state aid cut to towns with less than 10,000 people.  We did ok in the cut (we weren’t getting that much in the first place).  We will lose $2,000.  Woodbine takes the worst hit.  They lose almost 70% of their state aid.  Wildwood’s woes also continue.  Not only were they cut 13%, they also lost a tax appeal with the ride piers to the tune of almost 2 million dollars.  To round out the neighborhood, Cape May will loose 16.9% and West Cape May will drop 27.7% in state aid money.

Where are the state aid cuts for larger towns; Trenton, Camden, etc??  Why pick on small towns??  Is the state guilty of prejudice?    It seems that the state’s current definition of “home rule” is “consolidate before we bankrupt you”. 

Oh, I forgot, there is a new garbage tax for re-cycling that got included in our budget.   Not much but it exemplifies the state’s approach to “cutting your property tax” – “you MUST recycle or I will fine you and by the way, I am going to tax you for doing what I tell you that you hafta do.” ANNNDD it comes outta the borough’s budget for which the state claims we spend too much and capped it.   You gotta love it!!  This state is a textbook example of double speaks.

Gee, do I sound cynical? 

An item in the paper quoted the County Superintendent of Schools to say that he will close school districts that do not have a school.  In Cape May County, that is West Wildwood  and us.

Commissioner Schupp and Anita vanHeeswyck (only two that I am aware of) fired off letters and eMails to Superintendent Crowley, Sen vanDrew and Commissioner Davies to remind everyone what everyone said.

Sup. Crowley reminded us that state law says that school tax can only go up 4% regardless of whether or not we have a school board and Sen. vanDrew introduced bill 1280 on Feb. 21^st that will help towns like us.

I don’t know anyone who knows what is going to happen.  I am not sure I would believe anyone who said they did know!  We do have some indicators to watch:

·         What happens to bill 1280,

·         Any change in the law that says our school tax can only be raised 4% a year and

·         How school re-districting is worded, specially, as regards to the 4% law

I am happy to announce that our beach tags prices will NOT be raised again this year.  This will make the third year in a row that tag prices haven’t changed.  Seasonal tags will go on sale in May.  The price is $18 if purchased in May and $20 starting June 1^st.  We will announce dates and times that the sales office is open.

 As always if you can’t make it here in May, you can send a check for the entire amount and we will hold the tags for you.  Make the check out to the Borough of Cape May Point along with your name and CMP address to:

Borough of Cape May Point

Box 490

Cape May Point, NJ 08212

ATTN: Tags

I am considering holding an “Open Forum” kind of Borough meeting during the summer, mainly for the benefit of non-residents.  It would be on one Saturday morning a month with coffee and donuts.  Just me, to field questions and hand out information, so there can be no decisions made (decisions need a 2/3 vote by the commissioners).  What I can’t handle I will take back to Borough Hall for answers.

If this sounds like something that you might be interested, let me know.