BRICK – A sure sign that spring has sprung is the annual introduction of the township budget, which Mayor Lisa Crate presented during the most recent Council Meeting.
“Tonight I present a budget that keeps the taxes stable and ensures the continued delivery of the essential services our residents rely on and deserve,” she said.
The proposed 2025 budget totals $122,711,490, with an increase of 1.9 cents on $100 of assessed value, or a $47 increase for the average Brick household. Last year’s budget totaled about $117 million.
This is for the municipal portion of the tax bill only, and does not include the county, school or fire district taxes.
The mayor said that the spending plan prioritizes public safety, while funding Senior Services, the Department of Public Works, and community programs such as the Farmer’s Market, Summerfest, Traders Cove Concert Series, and other special events.
The budget funds the upkeep of the parks and recreational facilities, including township ocean beaches.
Brick has 20 parks, 10 basketball courts, 10 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, three bocce courts, one skate park, one bike and scooter park, three horseshoe pits, three football fields, 15 soccer fields, two cornhole game areas, six miles of bike trail and 22 softball and baseball fields, including the 40-acre field at the Drum Point Sports Complex.
“Simply put, this budget sustains every service that enhances the quality of life for Brick Township residents,” she said.
The spending plan includes some $15.9 million for debt service.
“On January 1, 2014, the township’s debt exceeded $168 million following a decade where it grew by more than $86 million,” Mayor Crate said. The total debt is now $120 million.
“This budget reflects months of dedication from our township’s financial team and builds upon our ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility, an approach that has delivered undeniable results and established Brick Township as one of the most efficiently managed and fiscally conservative municipalities in Ocean County,” she said.
Another sign that spring has arrived is planning for the Summerfest Concert Series, held over four Thursdays in July. The governing body named the award of contracts for food truck vendors, including hot foods, grilled and fried food items, ice cream and specialty foods.
A beer and wine garden concession was once again awarded to Windward Tavern of Princeton Avenue. Beer and wine will be available at the four Summerfest concerts and the FallFest event, and fireworks will be provided by Schaefer Fireworks of Strasburg Pennsylvania for the same events.
And finally, the council voted to extend the Storefront Revitalization Program and the waiver of fees for construction to promote the renovation of existing vacant commercial structures.
Mayor Crate said the program, designed to help and encourage business owners to come to Brick and occupy vacant storefronts, started in 2015, and the council renewed the ordinance in 2017, 2019 and 2022. The renewal extends the waiver until December 31, 2025.
Township permit fees will be waived for any vacant space under 5,000 square feet that has been vacant for at least one year.
“In total, more than 30 new businesses have opened and taken advantage of this program,” the mayor said, ranging from bakeries, yoga studios, florists and others.
There will be a public hearing on the budget and its likely adoption during the April 22 council meeting. The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
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