City Nets More in 2012 From Beach Fees, Parking, Fitness Center
An update through the third quarter shows city revenues up by $743,000.
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Ocean City has hauled in more than $11 million in user fees in 2012 — a 7.21 percent over 2011.
Substantial increases in revenue from beach tag and parking fees have helped the city bring in an extra $724,973 this year.
At Thursday's City Council meeting, City Finance Director Frank Donato updated council on revenue figures through Sept. 30, and the news was good.
Because so many people covet Ocean City's beaches, boardwalk and shore amenities, the city has already brought in about 16 percent of its $69 million budget through fees — a luxury few other towns enjoy.
Revenues through Sept. 30 are as follows:
| Source | 2011 | 2012 | Diff. $ | Diff. % |
| Beach Fees | $3,761,533 | $3,966,300 | $204,767 | 5.44 |
| Parking | $2,239,223 | $2,522,716 | $283,493 | 12.66 |
| Fees/Permits | $774,540 | $824,472 | $49,932 | 6.45 |
| Aquatics & Fitness | $725,664 | $887,200 | $161,616 | 22.27 |
| Municipal Court | $707,709 | $688,802 | -$18,907 | -2.67 |
| Emergency Medical Serv. | $485,605 | $398,167 | -$87,438 | -18.01 |
| Construction Code Fees | $423,972 | $570,102 | $146,130 | 34.47 |
| Licenses | $381,776 | $363,792 | -$17,984 | -4.71 |
| Smoke Detector Insp. | $156,712 | $150,555 | -$6,157 | -3.93 |
| Interlocal Dispatching | $154,485 | $160,665 | $6,180 | 4.0 |
| Interest/Cost on Taxes | $194,778 | $173,347 | -$21,432 | -11.0 |
| Rent/Sale of Material | $148,865 | $180,061 | $31,196 | 20.96 |
| Airport Fees | $114,514 | $121,513 | $6,999 | 6.11 |
| Boat Ramp Fees | $30,854 | $35,431 | $4,577 | 14.83 |
| Totals | $10,300,230 | $11,043,203 | $742,973 | 7.21 |
PARKING: A $5 increase in parking lot fees for peak weekends and the addition of about 60 spaces to the Fifth Street parking lot (where the skateboard park was removed) contributed to the increased revenue.
The actual numbers of cars that paid to park in 2012 (143,000) was down from 2011 (147,000) and 2010 (155,000). Parking lot fees account for about $1.7 million of $2.5 million in parking revenues.
Revenue from parking meters was up by about $20,000, according to Donato. Extended hours on Asbury Avenue (parking meters were in effect until 9 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.) accounted for about an extra $9,000.
The new parking spaces in the Fifth Street Parking lot added $60,000 in revenue.
Donato said the parking lots near Ninth Street are always the most lucrative, but he said the average parking space in Ocean City yielded $1,900 this season, and cars paid an average $11.75 to park.
BEACH TAGS: The first full year of a $5 increase in the price of seasonal tags took effect this year and helped Ocean City bring in an extra $205,000. The city sold 3,000 fewer seasonal tags but sold an additional 3,300 weekly and daily tags. Overall, the city sold 365,000 beach tags and brought in about $3.8 million. Business Administrator Mike Dattilo noted that the weather is a primary factor in determining both beach tag and parking revenues. The mandatory evacuation for Tropical Storm Irene hurt 2011 revenue, and some strong rainstorms that fell on weekends affected 2012 revenue.
AQUATICS AND FITNESS CENTER: In its first year since the completion of a multi-year construction project, the Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center has already brought in an extra $162,000 through Sept. 30.
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS: In 2012 to date, Ocean City has issued an extra 104 building permits (1,466 up from 1,362 in 2011), helping the city increase revenues by about $146,000.
Mr. B
7:03 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
And who processes and facilitates all this growth? City employees. what thanks did they get? a big fat ZERO.
caroline
8:06 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
This money is needed to fund all the law suits that result from gross incompetence
from taking care of their buddies instead of the town from having messed up prioriities don't you know this town exists for the proerity of a few of the old families here - first things first
Fred Miller
10:24 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Fire anyone over 55 and you are going to have an age-discrimination law suit. It is not incompetence from the boss, but gross incompetence from the employee.
Michael Hamilton
2:32 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Beach Patrol Captain Ollie Muzslay was not fired, Fred. As you well know, the position of Captain of the beach patrol was REMOVED, and REPLACED with Director of Operations (same job, different title) but Muzslay was out. This maneuver also ended the 100yr existence of the "seasonal autonomous Ocean City Beach Patrol" and you Fred, are very familiar of the entire scenario. Mayor Knight, Longo, Mckinley, and several other cronies were involved in the scurrilous maneuver, a decade or more in the making,and all to find a way to get Muzslay out, and McKinley in as "beach patrol director of operations" under a Fire Department Chief. Putting the beach patrol under the fire department has made about as much sense, as putting the OCFD under the jurisdiction of the OCBP , NONE! Consider the history of the Foglio/Mullineaux reign.
I agree with Mike Paparo, and his "destructive force comment" (Knight), but would include the all of the cronies who schemed the dirty deed. [Look what happened to McKinley!] Is it a "guilt complex" as to why OCBP historian(?) Miller will not recognize the admirable contributions of Captain Ollie Muzslay as well as other former guards. Write the truth about that which you have been trying to keep secret for over a decade, Fred. Unfortunately, more settlements are forthcoming as a result of decisions and gross incompetence of the current OCBP administration, and not from the actions of dedicated employees.
Michael Hamilton
7:21 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Fred Miller appears to have amnesia, when it comes to former OCBP Captain Ollie Muzslay.
Beach Patrol historian Miller, can find no history or photos of Muzslay, who served the City for over four decades as a proud member of the OCBP. But that is the way Miller works, if you are not one of his cronies and on his team, you will get "no respect" by the self-proclaimed historian. Could also be that Miller has serious "guilt issues", when it comes to Muzslay.
Neil Kaye
11:12 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Fewer cars for 3 years in a row is not a good sign, even if revenue was up because of increased rates. A 9% drop in vehicles certainly doesn't suggest more people are coming to OC. You can only raise rates so much before it drives more people away to other cheaper places, even if we have nicer beaches. Time to think about a long term, sustainable future for OC, residents and tourists alike.
Ellen
12:03 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Applause!
Gary
4:56 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Yes long term sustainable future means protect the environment
Rick Mathews
7:35 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
With such a increase in each tag revenue maybe we can finally replace the lifeguard boats damaged in the summer in 2011 which the city was even refunded by the insurance company and still didnt replace..Were talking $9000 per boat for 6 boats, we received 3.9 million in bch revenue and the insurance check for the damage boats...It looks so bad for a world class resort to have missing boats in some beaches...Wait until the wave runner doesn't start when needed for a rescue and we will be sorry...Replace the 6 boats and keep us safe!!
CTA
3:47 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Why replace boats based upon an 1880's fishing boat? South jersey lifeguard boats have little or no practical usage in modern lifeguarding. Their main function is to supply a race toy for ego building and photo ops. Even the format of the south jersey lifeguard races has no spectator value, since they row straight out to sea for a half mile or so, now, if a guard had to row that far out to sea for a rescue. Some body screwed up! Replace toy boats with paddle boards and train real watermen on all the stands......
Michael Hamilton
9:00 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
CTA has it right on all counts. Traditionalist like Miller and his cronies, are stuck on stupid when it comes to the beach patrol boats. A few boats will always be around for the photo-ops, but to purchase any more $9,000.00 + boats, just to "keep the old-guard boys happy" is ridiculous considering their actual value in life-saving. The only way a lifeguard boat is going to keep you safe, would be to sit in one as it sits on the beach, which is almost all of the time. To be safe, swim in front of lifeguards who keep watch and when necessary, swim to the rescue with the torpedo,which is the method used 99% of the time. Rescue-boards and the jet-ski make up the other 1%.
The traditional lifeguard-stand could be replaced with a safer, lighter, more protective version, which is less vulnerable to damage, and requires virtually no maintenance. These modern stands are being made in Cape May. A change OCBP leadership and an education of the fire chief, will be required to modernize the beach patrol equipment.
Wyatt
10:16 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
WOW!! Look at all that money! See, the shoobies really are good for something. Now if they would only stay home but keep sending money.
Greg
10:24 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Don't worry that's what Ocean City is all about. Greed you fit right in there Wyatt!
Carol Marengo
8:36 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Maybe I won't buy in OC. I'll look in Marmora.
JB
10:09 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
So lets hear how those swipe to pay meters worked out this season...
Ed Sheppard
2:03 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Why are people happy about this? That's an extra three quarters of a million dollars that people were unable to spend at local businesses.
Colonel
5:09 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Now let's see how fast the politicians can spend the extra money.
Rosie
8:30 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Parking revenues were up. Don't know how that happened since the metered spots in front of The Varsity Inn on 8th St were removed and bike racks were installed where parking spaces once were. With parking spaces being so valuable, how did The Varsity get to have spaces removed for their own benefit? Is there any other business in town that has such an amenity?
Chris
10:06 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Bike racks are going up in an effort to get more people biking than driving which is great on paper. But, this city was built for driving and it is very crowded during July, especially and not safe for bikers in town. When it comes to city planning, they should never have let the developers and realtors run the town and over build, building duplexes and quads everywhere with no lawns for kids to play on. And the town could have been planned so that cyclists were safe from traffic - but it wasn't planned that way and trying to completely change the town - over built so that realtors and developers could get every single dime in their pockets made Ocean City what it is today. It is not good for biking during July and some of August (of course the rest of the time, it is a ghost town so bikes can do whatever they want safely.) When a town is run for the purpose of putting money into individuals pockets and not the the common good - Ocean City is what you end up with. And as far as I can see, it will just be more of the same because realtors are still running the show. Money talks in Ocean City. It is all about the tourist dollar so you can't have it both ways.
dolores piccinino
2:20 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Let me just tell you Chris that without construction this town would be dead....Not only does construction bring new people to Ocean City but it also means jobs for people in our town like the code office and zoning and planning...local architects...banks..and even WaWa and our local resturants that feed the construction workers every day. Also building duplexes has given the town a cleaner and well landscaped look...some of the houses that were replaced were an eye sore and ready to fall down..the new duplexes brought new families down to the shore,,so sometime you have to look at the whole picture...Ocean City has bike paths on Haven and Simpson ride your bike there and nice parks for children to play in....so you see new construction inspires a chain of events that are good for our town.