By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Normally, this is the best time for Sea Isle City’s residents and tourists to buy their beach tags at a savings. Year after year, the seasonal tags are offered at the discounted rate of $20 until May 15, compared to the regular price of $25.
But as everyone knows, this is anything but a normal year. As the coronavirus outbreak continues, it is unclear when Gov. Phil Murphy will reopen the state’s beaches to the public for the summer vacation season.
In the meantime, Sea Isle officials are considering ways to make it more convenient for people to buy discounted beach tags as well as the city’s popular parking permits.
“These are things people will need once we get back to normalcy later this year,” city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
At their April 28 meeting, members of City Council are expected to discuss possibly extending the deadlines for purchasing parking permits, discounted beach tags and rental permits.
“We will have a better handle on where we are then. Obviously, (parking, beach and rental) fees are going to be really important this year for revenue,” Council President J.B. Feeley said, alluding to the pandemic’s impact on the city’s finances.
Parking permits are expected to go on sale beginning May 1, but that date could change depending on the outcome of Council’s discussions at the April 28 meeting.
Available on a first come, first served basis, the parking permits sell out each year. In 2018, Mayor Leonard Desiderio increased the number of seasonal permits from 300 to 400 to meet higher demand. The city plans to sell 400 this year, too.
Parking permits save motorists from the headache of fumbling for cash or coins to feed the meters or parking kiosks. They also save motorists from the worry of getting a parking ticket.
But this summer, the seasonal and weekly parking permits are going to cost more. The city is raising the price from $200 to $250 for the seasonal permits and from $30 to $50 for the weeklies. The price increase was approved by the city before the pandemic struck.
May 1 is normally when rental permits must be purchased in Sea Isle, but that date may change, too, depending on Council’s discussions. Any property in Sea Isle being rented out seasonally or year-round is required to have a permit issued by the city.
Feeley explained that the city is counting on fees that are generated by beach tags and permits to help finance the municipal budget. Beach tag sales, for instance, consistently produce about $1.4 million in annual revenue for Sea Isle.
“Obviously, we’re going to have a decrease in revenue,” Feeley said of the pandemic cutting into the city’s fees. “We’ve got to plan on that. How it shakes out in the budget remains to be seen.”
Sea Isle’s $25 million municipal budget for 2020 has already been adopted by Council. Reflecting the city’s strong finances, the budget keeps local property taxes stable and also includes a record-high $6.4 million surplus.
Feeley noted there is a possibility the city may have to tap into the surplus to help finance Sea Isle’s municipal operations if there is a significant reduction in fees caused by the pandemic.
“It’s good financial management that we have that surplus,” he said.
