NJ bill would require beach towns to publicly disclose how they spend beach tag moneyProposed law mandates itemized cost and revenue reports for municipally owned beaches as part of local public access plans.
TRENTON, NJ – Shore towns that charge for beach access could soon be required to publicly detail exactly how much money they collect — and how they spend it — under a new transparency bill introduced in the state Legislature.
Assembly Bill A5755, sponsored by Assemblywoman Margie Donlon (D–Monmouth), would amend New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law to require municipalities with municipally owned beaches that charge beach tag or badge fees to include itemized cost and revenue data in their public access plans.
The legislation, introduced June 12, 2025, follows longstanding debates over whether some coastal towns use beach fee revenues appropriately. Critics have argued that beach tags, which are intended to fund maintenance and operations, have instead become de facto taxes supporting general municipal expenses.
What the bill requires
Under the proposal, any town that owns and operates a beach requiring paid access would have to include the following information in its public access plan element—a mandatory section of the municipality’s master plan governing coastal and tidal access:
More from Shore News Network, NJ Republicans Push Return of Pledge of Allegiance at Public Meetings, Patriotic Readings in Schools.
- An itemized budget of actual costs for operating and maintaining each municipally owned beach during the previous beach season.
- Total revenues generated by each beach for that same period, including daily and seasonal tag sales and other beach-related income.
- An itemized projection of anticipated costs for the upcoming beach season.
- An explanation of how any surplus revenue—when collections exceed expenditures—will be used by the municipality.
The new requirements would appear in section 19 of the Municipal Land Use Law (P.L.1975, c.291), which already requires towns to prepare a public access plan outlining beach entry points, parking, facilities, and long-term maintenance.
Donlon’s bill builds on that framework by introducing fiscal transparency to ensure that residents and visitors know how their beach fees are managed.
Background: Calls for transparency at the Jersey Shore
For decades, beach badge fees have been a staple of New Jersey’s coastal communities, helping to fund lifeguards, restrooms, dune protection, and cleanup efforts. But the absence of uniform reporting requirements has led to disputes over how those funds are allocated.
In several towns, residents have questioned whether revenues are being used for non-beach purposes such as general municipal payroll or infrastructure improvements unrelated to coastal access. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which enforces the state’s public trust doctrine requiring access to tidal waters, has occasionally intervened when municipalities were accused of limiting access or misusing beach revenues.
Assemblywoman Donlon, a physician representing Monmouth County’s 11th District, said the bill is meant to enhance accountability without imposing financial hardship on local governments. “Beach tags were never intended to serve as hidden revenue streams,” Donlon said in prepared remarks. “This bill ensures transparency for taxpayers and fairness for the public, who already have a right under state law to access the shore.”
Continuing coverage, Fight call patrol turns into crack cocaine bust in Lakewood.
Integrating fiscal data into master plans
Under A5755, the new reporting would become part of each municipality’s master plan—the document that guides local development and land use policy. Specifically, it amends the public access plan element required under existing law, which covers shoreline facilities, parking, marinas, and other infrastructure supporting public beach use.
Municipalities would continue to map access points and facilities, assess the need for additional access, and outline strategies for permanent protection of those rights. The fiscal disclosures would supplement that planning by showing the economic side of beach management.
By embedding the reporting requirements within the master plan process, the data would become part of official public records subject to review, hearings, and public comment.
What municipalities must disclose
The bill makes clear that reporting must be itemized, meaning towns cannot simply report lump-sum totals for beach operations. Municipalities must detail specific costs such as:
– Lifeguard and public safety staffing;
– Beach maintenance, cleaning, and equipment;
– Facility upkeep, including restrooms and walkways;
– Capital improvements, signage, and accessibility;
– Environmental protection and dune stabilization expenses.
Revenues must also be broken down by category, including daily and seasonal badge sales, concessions, parking fees associated with beach use, and any related rental income.
Breaking now, Church finance boss admits stealing more than $1.2 million to bankroll luxury lifestyle.
If revenues exceed costs, municipalities must disclose how they intend to spend the surplus. Acceptable uses may include capital improvements to beach facilities, accessibility upgrades, environmental protection projects, or public safety enhancements.
Reinforcing the public trust doctrine
The bill’s language reflects New Jersey’s strong adherence to the public trust doctrine, a legal principle guaranteeing public access to tidal waters and shorelines. By linking financial reporting to public access planning, A5755 reinforces the idea that beaches are public resources managed on behalf of all residents, not revenue-generating assets to be controlled solely by local governments.
The measure also aligns with recent efforts by the DEP to require municipalities receiving coastal aid or shore protection funding to maintain transparent access and financial practices.
Implementation and scope
The proposal does not create new fees or state-level audits but would make financial disclosure mandatory for beach towns that already charge for access. Noncompliance could expose municipalities to public scrutiny and potential state enforcement if their master plans fail to meet statutory standards.
Because the requirement is tied to the Municipal Land Use Law, the disclosures would likely occur during routine updates to master plans, which are typically reviewed every six to ten years. However, the DEP and municipal planning boards could require earlier compliance for towns seeking permits or approvals affecting beach access.
Support and next steps
Environmental and good-government advocates have praised the bill as a reasonable step toward fiscal openness. Groups such as Clean Ocean Action and the Surfrider Foundation have long argued that transparency in beach management is essential to uphold both environmental and public access standards.
Municipal officials are expected to review the measure closely, with some likely to raise concerns about administrative burdens or the potential for misinterpretation of financial data by the public.
The bill has been referred to the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee for consideration. If enacted, it would take effect immediately, requiring towns with beach-tag programs — including popular destinations like Asbury Park, Belmar, Spring Lake, and Long Branch — to include detailed annual cost and revenue information in their official public access plans.
In doing so, A5755 would establish a first-of-its-kind public accounting standard for New Jersey’s beaches, offering residents and visitors a transparent view of how their access fees support the shorelines they enjoy each summer.
Making headlines, Mikie Sherrill Pushes to Roll Back SNAP Fraud Protections and Work Requirements.