Cape May County Supports Increase in Shore Protection Fund

OCNJ Daily

Cape May County freeholders passed a resolution on Tuesday supporting an increase in state funding for the "Shore Protection Fund," from $25 million to $50 million. There is a bill in the Assembly and Senate that would increase that allotment. The Shore Protection Fund provides important funding that allows the state and municipalities to engage in cost-share partnerships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on shore protection projects, including beach restoration and maintenance. “We have to support our communities and provide the necessary resources to protect themselves,” Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson said in a press release. “We have families that live in beachfront communities up and down the coasts, along with thousands of businesses. The state should do more to help them.” The Shore Protection Fund is funded by the State Realty Transfer Fee, and it is currently capped at $25 million, an amount that has not been adjusted since 1999. The pending bills in the Assembly, A-639 and Senate, S-1071, would increase the cap on funding for the Shore Protection Fund to $50 million. “This fund hasn’t seen an adjustment since before people were worried about Y2K,” said Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton. “Costs for projects increase over time and if your funding doesn’t match those increases you will be doing fewer projects.” Thornton continued, “We need to do more to protect our shore communities throughout the state of New Jersey.” The resolution passed by the freeholders notes the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy has made it clear that the current funding formula is not adequate to allow the state and towns to fund recovery projects.