Ventnor Commission: Deeper Debt, Outsourced Code Enforcement

Ventnor Commissioners met on April 10, 2025. Most discussion related to 2025 municipal budget.

Topics included:

Former Ventnor Mayor Tim Kreisher posed numerous questions concerning specific budget allocations.

For 2024, Ventnor had $39 million increase in tax ratables.

Discrepancies in anticipated revenues, particularly in relation to a shared service agreement with Margate involving Uniform Construction Code Office. Kreisher noted dramatic reduction in code enforcement funding. Decreased from $138,000 to approximately $32,000 over four years.

Mayor Tim Kriebel claims City outsourced many of those functions at lower cost. Social media commenters point to dirty Ventnor construction sites, poor enforcement of commercial short-term rentals within residential neighborhoods.

Kreisher asked Kriebel about rise in Ventnor municipal debt; from $27 million to nearly $49 million within past five years. Increasing debt service costs. Deferred capital improvements, ongoing infrastructure projects like C-Sure playground and basketball court.

Another bond sale to delay taxpayer impact?

Kreisher: Use of surplus tax funds only delays pain of greater tax increases. Ventnor using 59% of surplus compared to less than 50% in previous years.

• Rising salaries, insurance costs, general expenses.
• Softening real estate market.
• Looming RE-VAL and more tax appeals.
• Less future revenue.

Ventnor pickleball courts need repair and replacement. Seriously degraded over last two years. Short-term, band-aid repairs don’t last long. City still dealing with Ventnor Pickleball injury lawsuit. Ventnor Mayor allowing more private events on public pickleball courts. Courts shut down to public during those weekend private events. Could be 3 or 4 private, multi-day Pickleball events affecting weekends during Spring / Summer 2025.

Appointment of new police chief. Retirement of Chief Joseph Fussner, effective April 30. 

Ventnor Fishing Pier fees to rise for 2025 season.