Ocean City, New Jersey, lawmakers unanimously approved the first price increases to its beach badges in more than a decade at a Thursday meeting.
The City Council unanimously approved doubling the daily badge from $5 to $10 and the weekly badge from $10 to $20. The season pass will also cost more in the summer of 2023.
"An increase is okay with me. Now, the amount of the increase, that's for debate," Ocean City resident Linda McDaniel said after hearing about the Council's decision.
Edie Wagner of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, disagrees with the decision however.
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"I just think that it's too expensive for families," she said.
Local leaders told NBC10 charging more is a necessity, pointing to recent inflation as well as higher costs for beach maintenance.
"If we want to maintain the highest level of standards for a beach in New Jersey, it's an absolute must," Ocean City councilmember Jody Levchuk said.
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Levchuk also addressed concerns that the higher price could drive visitors away.
"Sure that's always a concern," he said. "Whether we raise beach tag prices or not you're always concerned with your competition for one reason or another. But I think that Ocean City, our brand, our safety, our track record and everything else we do well here will outweigh the issue."
The last time the city raised seasonal beach tag prices was in 2011. Daily rates haven’t been changed in two decades.
