$125 Million 2026 Budget Adopted In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Council on Thursday adopted the city’s 2026 municipal budget, approving a $125 million spending plan after the state completed its review earlier in the day.

The vote came at the budget’s second reading and public hearing. Business administrator Frank Donato told the council the budget was the same version introduced earlier in the process and remained tied to a 1.38-cent tax increase. He said the city had been waiting to move forward because the state had not finished its review in time for the May 21 meeting, when adoption had been scheduled.

Donato reviewed the budget calendar, saying Mayor Jay Gillian presented his proposal at the March 12 council meeting and that the budget later was introduced by the council. He also said an April 9 meeting had been canceled and the budget then came back for a second reading and possible adoption on May 21, when it was tabled because the state had not completed its review.

“I’m happy to say that as of this afternoon, they did email us confirmation that they reviewed and approved our budget for adoption tonight so we can move forward,” Donato said.

He said the budget complies with both the spending cap and the tax levy cap.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the budget.

After the budget vote, Donato said the council would move quickly to amend the budget through two resolutions to add grant funds. He identified one as a Community Development Block Grant and the other as funding tied to the Cape May County Celebrate 250 program.