Ocean Grove. Blogfinger photo. Near the Great Auditorium. ©
Letter to the Editor of Blogfinger.net. August 31. 2022.
ALL RESIDENTS OF OCEAN GROVE AND NEPTUNE SHOULD BE ALARMED:
Are you aware that last Monday night, August 22nd, the town council voted unanimously to TRIPLE and QUADRUPLE CO fees for summer rentals? The CO fees for inspections were more than tripled from $150 to $500 and the summer updates were quadrupled from $25 to $100.
Well, if you were not aware, you are in good company because there was no attempt at dialogue, input, or communication in advance. Only THREE people showed up to oppose the council and speak out against this confiscatory act. There was also no obvious transparency and justification about the fee increase with only a vague explanation given about why it was done. One would think that a detailed financial accounting and analysis would be mandatory to support such an epic increase. If there is truly nothing to hide, then why did they do just that?
I hope we can all agree that summer rentals are a vital and important part of the character, commerce, and community of all shore towns and are vital to economic interests.
We need to hold our elected leaders accountable. In Neptune Township, we already pay some of the highest real estate taxes in the nation. A township fee is, in essence, a tax. This great country was founded on the premise that taxation without representation is inherently unfair. We actually fought a war over it. All residents of Ocean Grove and Neptune are put at great risk when our elected leaders believe they can act with impunity. This particular fee might not directly affect you but God only knows what their next surprise might be.
The following is a list of the politicians who voted unanimously on this subject. Some of them will also be at an election forum at the next Ocean Grove Home Owners Association Meeting on September 17th at 10 am in the Community Room on Pilgrim Pathway and via zoom (oghoa.org but announced on their Facebook page). If you are concerned, please let your voice be heard.
Township Committee who voted
Robert lane
Tassie York
Mayor Nicholas Williams
Deputy mayor Keith Cafferty
Dr Michael Brantley
drmbrantley@neptunetownship.org
Laura Dugan
ld123ski@gmail.com
doriscorea25 – Hotels don’t pay this fee and these fees have not been enacted yet. I don’t know what “fees” you are appalled about but this isn’t it.
P.S. This is not a TAX.
The increases previously enacted affected what I paid this August to stay at The Ocean Plaza Hotel for 3 weeks! I was appalled at the fees.
But I love Ocean Plaza and have stayed there for 9 years every August so far!
Taxation without representation must be fought!!