By Donald WittkowskiMayor Jay Gillian will deliver his proposed 2017 municipal budget during Thursday night’s City Council meeting, but his administration is not yet saying whether the spending plan includes a tax increase for Ocean City property owners.Doug Bergen, the mayor’s spokesman, said city officials were working on the final details of the budget on Wednesday afternoon.“They’re still playing with the numbers and getting things finalized,” Bergen said, declining to say whether a tax increase is planned.Once Gillian submits his budget to Council, the seven-member governing body will scrutinize the spending plan for possible changes before taking a vote.The budget will prioritize the city’s spending for the upcoming year and set the local property tax rate. In 2016, the mayor proposed a $74.2 million budget that included a penny increase in the tax rate.Also during Council’s 7 p.m. meeting Thursday, Gillian will give his annual “State of the City” address. The address usually recaps the city’s accomplishments in the past year and gives a preview of major projects ahead.One big-ticket item scheduled to get underway this spring is a $6.6 million drainage, roadway and pumping project to alleviate flooding in the area between 26th and 34th streets. Gillian has called it the largest flood-control project in the city’s history.
During the meeting, Council is expected to vote on a $12.2 million funding package, including nearly $11.6 million in city bonds and notes, to finance other construction projects in 2017.They include the Boardwalk’s reconstruction between 10th and 12th streets, dredging work, repairs to city buildings and a series of upgrades to playgrounds and recreation centers.Continuing what he started in 2016, Gillian is once again placing an emphasis on dredging projects to clear out the sediment-choked lagoons and channels along the back bays. After setting aside $10 million for dredging projects in 2016, he has proposed $7.5 million for similar work this year as part of his five-year capital plan.The city has been disposing of its dredge spoils at a Wildwood landfill, but has reached a new deal to begin sending them to a Salem County site.Councilman Bob Barr explained that the city had to look elsewhere for a disposal site because the Wildwood landfill is full.“Wildwood is capped,” Barr said. “They’re full. They’re done.”In its new agreement with the Salem County Improvement Authority, the city will send its dredge spoils to a landfill in Alloway Township.Bergen noted the city will pay Salem County a rate of $5 per cubic yard for the dredge spoils. He said that is half of what the city paid to use the Wildwood landfill.
