Ventnor City introduces $42.7 million 2026 municipal budget; public hearing set for May 28

Ventnor City on Thursday introduced its proposed municipal budget for 2026, a plan the city said totals $42,675,000 and which the commission scheduled for a public hearing on May 28, 2026.

Tom Cheró, who presented the budget slides to the board, said the draft shows the city’s total appropriations at $42,675,000 and explained a long‑standing reserve for uncollected taxes used to ensure county and school levies are funded even if the city does not collect 100% of current year bills. "The total budget is $42,675,000," Cheró said during his presentation, and he told commissioners the reserve is a non‑spending appropriation that can make the municipal levy appear larger on paper while protecting other taxing bodies.

Cheró also reviewed debt and revenue details: the slide presentation listed $97.8 million in combined school, water/sewer and municipal debt (with school and utility debt shown separately from the municipal limit) and reported an equalized assessed value average that keeps the city well under the statutory debt limit. He said the city stands about $429,000 below the appropriation cap.

The presentation outlined revenue shifts from the prior year, including a modest increase in the use of surplus (about $4.66 million anticipated for 2026 versus $4.5 million the prior year) and an expected $900,000 in receipts from delinquent taxes. Cheró recommended a $75 increase to the flat fee portion of the water and sewer rates for 2026, citing an anticipated $440,000 increase in the utility budget and lower available surplus.

Mayor Creable moved to introduce Resolution 2026‑108 to publish the budget and set the May 28 public hearing; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call (Commissioner Langraph: yes; Commissioner Mento: yes; Mayor Creable: yes). The commission directed that the budget be published on the city website on April 24 as required and read the notice instructing taxpayers they may present objections at the hearing.

Why it matters: The introduced budget lays out the city’s operating and capital priorities for the coming year, funds public safety and beach/boardwalk operations, and includes capital planning for infrastructure such as continued boardwalk reconstruction. Residents who wish to comment in person or by remote access can do so at the May 28 public hearing.

Next steps: The commission will hold the public hearing on May 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ventnor Municipal Building, at which time taxpayers and other interested persons may present objections or suggestions.