Atlantic City Administrator John Lund said the budget “accomplishes key priorities of the Mayor and Council in funding for economic development, housing incentives, community beautification and additional amenities for public.”  Lund said also, the city is “continuing to budget any excess cash growth beyond required minimums towards inevitable liabilities in specialized funds, moving them away from operating budgets to minimize future debt assumptions or operating reserve deficits,” and there will be no increases to existing fees or utility rates.

In other business, the Council will hold a Public Hearing on adoption of the FY22 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the key elements, Lund says, include: 320 capital improvements in streets, sewers, vehicles, major and minor equipment, costing $23,455,727; 99.49% of the 10-year old has been financed, with all critical infrastructure fully funded (the only unfunded project in the CIP is the Atlantic Municipal Airport’s 8 Unit Nested T-Hangar, scheduled in FY24); and, Lund says only $10,150,000 of the capital improvements are scheduled to be financed by new debt, which is still $1.15-million less than the $11.3-million estimated in the FY21 Budget, and $3.75-million less than estimated in the FY2020 Budget.

The Council will also act on passing a Resolution amending seasonal wages for the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. for 2021, as proposed earlier this year, by the City’s Personnel & Finance Committee. They will also act on approving a Resolution “Setting Salaries for Appointed Officers and Employees of the City,” for the Fiscal Year that runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30,2022. The Resolution says all Union positions are scheduled for 2.4% wage growth as a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment). Exceptions to the wage increases include:

Chief of Police, 2.54% increase; Library Director, 2.9% increase; Adult Services Librarian, 6.38% increase; Youth Services Librarian, 4.19% increase; Parks & Rec Director, 5% increase; Street Superintendent, 5.8% increase; City Clerk, 7.84% increase; City Administrator, 2.4% increase. City Administrator John Lund says those increases will bring those positions closer to the current market average for communities of similar size. When combined with the automatic union compensation, the City’s total labor compensation (Not including health insurance and similar benefits) is scheduled to be $2,551, 431.57 in FY2022, or an increase of 2.35% over the FY 2021 estimated total labor compensation cost.

And, the Atlantic City Council is set to review and act on a recommendation for the purchase of a lot for new home construction, at 211 W. 6th Street. Jeff Pross has proposed purchasing the lot for $1,000, with the intention of building a new house with an estimated $110,00 cost in construction. The bid is more than what current policy requires, in addition to a minimum legal deposit. The Council will also act on an Order to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Snyder & Associates, for the West 22nd Street Sidewalk Project. The Council has previously received a petition with 94 signatures, requesting the installation of a sidewalk from Palm to Chestnut Streets. Their final order of business is to reappoint Jon Martens and Vicki Brown to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.