Possible Belmar Tax Hike: Meeting On Tuesday

The Belmar Council was set to vote to vote on it's budget on Tuesday – and a tax hike could be in the offing.

The council plans to raise the amount raised by taxation from $6.6 million to $8 billion, a 21 percent increase in revenues that stunned at least one resident at a recent meeting.

It's not clear how much that could cost the average homeowner, or how much the rate will be. The budget can be found here.

The council was set to vote on the budget at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. You can find the agenda here.

Resident Maria Rondiaro asked told council members at the May 7 meeting to "go back to the drawing board" and consider the impact such a hike would have on busiensses.

"I am terrified that this town will no longer be affordable," she said. "I ask you to go back to the drawing board."

Mayor Mark Walsifer responded that 21 percent "is not the percentage" but he didn't elaborate. He asked people to come to the Tuesday meeting to find how much the tax hike will be.

The discussion can be found at 52:50: