City Council unanimously passed a resolution Thursday opposing a state Senate bill that would block the collecting of beach tag fees in any shore town that accepts funding for beach replenishment projects.
“I think it’s disgusting,” Councilman Mike DeVlieger said. “It’s a bunch of politicians using funding as a weapon. If you want clean, well-protected beaches, you have to pay for them.”
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michael Doherty, a Republican from the landlocked 23rd District in the northwestern corner of the state. It was introduced in January 2014 and has been referred to the Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee. It has not yet been considered by either the full Senate or the General Assembly.
Ocean City’s vote is ceremonial and follows similar resolutions in Avalon, Beach Haven and Surf City.
Ocean City collected more than $4 million in beach tag revenues this year to cover the roughly equivalent cost of maintaining the Ocean City Beach Patrol and cleaning and maintaining eight miles of beach.
An $18 million Army Corps of Engineers project added sand to the north end of Ocean City in the wake of Superstorm Sandy in spring 2013. Ocean City will be part of an estimated $70 million project to replenish beaches at the south end of the island and in Strathmere and Sea Isle City.
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