Trenton, NJ – A bill introduced in the New Jersey Assembly would require municipalities that operate public beaches and charge beach tag fees to publicly disclose detailed financial information about their beach operations.
Assemblywoman Margie Donlon, M.D., of Monmouth County introduced the measure June 12.
Assembly Bill 5755 mandates that shore towns include specific cost and revenue data for their beaches in the public access plans required under state land use law.
Key Points
- Assembly Bill 5755 requires municipalities with paid public beaches to disclose itemized financial details in their public access plans.
- The information would include prior-year expenses, revenues, and plans for any surplus funds.
- The measure was introduced by Assemblywoman Margie Donlon on June 12.
Financial transparency for municipal beaches
Under the proposal, any municipality that owns and operates a beach where access requires the purchase of a beach tag must report an itemized budget of actual operational and maintenance costs from the previous season. The town would also be required to disclose total revenues from beach tag sales and other beach-related sources.
In addition to past data, the bill calls for a projection of expected costs for the upcoming beach season. If a municipality collects more in revenue than it spends, the plan must explain how the excess funds will be used.
Amendment to municipal land use law
The measure amends the “Municipal Land Use Law,” which governs the contents of local master plans. The law already requires municipalities with tidal shorelines to maintain a public access plan detailing how they provide and protect public access to the waterfront. Donlon’s bill expands that requirement to include a financial disclosure component for beach operations supported by beach tag fees.
Public accountability for beach management
By adding financial transparency to the planning process, the bill seeks to make information about beach finances readily available to the public. The new disclosure would be included in each town’s master plan documents, ensuring accessibility for residents and state regulators.
Implementation and scope
If enacted, the law would take effect immediately. It would apply to any municipality with a municipally owned beach where the public is charged a fee for access, regardless of size or location. The bill does not alter how towns manage their beaches but adds a reporting requirement to promote accountability in the use of public beach revenue.
