While the mayor’s plan to expand to pool of allowable donors to his assembly campaign by relaxing Belmar’s pay to play restrictions is going to be much discussed and possibly resisted, the public hearing on it won’t be tomorrow night. Tomorrow is the first reading and introduction. Someone might bring it up at the public session but there will be no formal hearing about it and no questions answered until the next meeting.
Tomorrow night’s agenda, however, does include a couple of resolutions that will likely be the subject of some amount of contention.
Of course there’s the hearing on the Special Improvement District budget, which is more than $15,000 higher than last year’s budget. This tax increase is helping to make owning a business in Belmar unaffordable. I expect – or at least I hope – that some of those affected by this tax increase will come tomorrow night and ask why their tax is going up, particularly those whose businesses aren’t especially benefited from the SID.
Also to be heard from tomorrow will be the Maclearie Park Neighborhood Association. They have a nifty new Facebook page that I happened to catch this post on:
Seems there is a question as to the legality of leasing space at Green Acres funded park land to private businesses. Will be interesting to hear.
See you tomorrow night.
6 Comments
Let me understand this SID tax increase – if commercial property tax assessments went DOWN, taxes have to be increased somewhere else to make up for the loss. What’s next? How about an entrance tax upon everyone who enters an establishment that serves alcohol. An expanded time frame to serve booze could mean more entrance tax money. The British taxed tea and what did they do in Boston way back when?
SID is a tax increase that’s tolerated under the guise of improving the business while providing another layer of intrusive meddling by government.
Why I am a Progressive
1. I love being in control.
2. I love Unions they love control too.
3. I am for Planned Parenthood, they control the herd, limits future gang members, rapists, criminals.
4. I am for open borders, more uneducated ignorant voters for the cause, and increase need for government handouts.
5. I want the middle east refugees to come here, more future voters government handouts so what if a few are terrorists.
6. I am for the increase taxes for the rich,rich is anyone that runs a business especially small business so we get more money for handouts.
None of the SID members really seem to care they never show up. Why do we care if they don’t. So many stores closed at the end of the season. It’s sad. All Matt does is promote bars.
Regardless of whether you care about Maclearie Park or L street beach Park, chances are you live near one of the many Green Acre encumbered parks. An analogy to show the problem: Take Three Acres Park ( Dempsey) 5.6 acres of funded parkland. What is to prevent the borough advertising and bidding a large portion for private skateboard lessons and a fee to use basketball courts to a for profit business. There is no difference in the violations of Green Acres Rules. Green Acres, as with our lease with Friends of Belmar Harbor at Maclearie Park, 6.9 acres of funded parkland is a lease to a non-profit organization and they do not limit free public access. The most complicating situation is that the borough allowed a for profit company to commandeer a large portion of a .04 Green Acre encumbered beach park and the park is also coastal permitted and a CAFRA permit. Unlike Dempisey Park.
Don’t mess with Matt’s candy store. A bag of “M&M”s trumps a Milky Way mini.
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