Ventnor City adopts 2026 budget with 6¢ tax increase and water/sewer rate hikes

Ventnor City’s governing body on May 28 adopted the 2026 municipal budget, after a brief public hearing and a net-zero amendment shifting two line items. The roll-call vote recorded two commissioners and the mayor in favor, approving a spending plan the administration says is necessary to cover rising statutory and infrastructure costs.

The budget adoption follows public comment from resident Tim Cryer, who urged a larger use of the city’s fund balance to reduce the proposed 6-cent municipal tax increase and the 10% increase in water and sewer flat rates. Cryer said the city currently plans to use about $4,620,000 of an approximately $9,078,000 available surplus — “slightly more than 50%” — and proposed increasing that percentage to cut the tax impact now rather than postponing relief.

Commissioners and finance staff defended the budget strategy. Commissioner Mento said the city avoided a much larger health-insurance hit this year by moving to a self-insured blend, a change she said reduced a potential 37% increase to about 14–18% for city coverage. Leon, the city finance advisor, told the commission the reserve level is part of a longer-term strategy to preserve cash flow, meet bond-match obligations and protect the city’s credit rating.

Mayor Creable described a set of largely unavoidable cost drivers: statutory pensions, Medicare and workers’ compensation increases, and a multi-year, state-mandated lead service-line replacement program estimated in discussion at roughly $65–70 million over 10 years. “Delaying it is not an option,” he said, adding the city must bank revenue to meet future work.

The commission approved a bench amendment (Resolution 168) that the clerk said adjusts two revenue line items with no net change to the total budget, and then adopted Resolution 2026-158 formally approving the municipal budget. The recorded roll calls for both votes showed Commissioners Lang and Mento and Mayor Creable voting in favor.

The budget package also included notices to the state showing the estimated homeowner impacts at different assessed values; officials offered examples on the record for clarity. The mayor said a $400,000 property-assessed home would see about $242 in increased municipal tax annually under the 6-cent change, and a $500,000 assessed home about $33 per year at the stated rate change; staff noted assessments and market value differ and the state chart is based on assessed value.

What happens next: the budget is adopted as amended and administrative staff will carry out the line-item adjustments recorded in the meeting. The commission said it will continue to pursue property sales and grant funding to improve the city’s long-term fiscal picture and to support mandated infrastructure projects.

Sources: Public hearing comments and roll-call votes recorded at the May 28, 2026 Ventnor City Commission meeting.