Hundreds crowd hearing on proposed tax hike in Wildwood

Some suggested consolidation was the answer. We all have Wildwood in our name," one man said of the town's neighboring communities.Others asked what can be cut to make up the difference. Troiano said the city is working with the staff it needs as a resort town and further cuts would hamper the services residents and visitors require.Some questioned previous budgetary decisions, such as the construction of a new recreation center at Maxwell Field.But all said 25 cents was simply too much to take."The bottom line is this tax increase is abominable," said Kathleen Taintor, a longtime city taxpayer.Troiano reiterated his desire to bring more ratables to town in the form of high-rise hotels, which he said would lessen the tax burden in the long term."The more ratables you have, the better your tax rate's going to be," Troiano said.Resident John Bruno asked about the short-term."What has been done?" Bruno asked of the mayor's plan to lessen the burden in 2008.Troiano said he was negotiating and working with multiple buyers to close a land sale that would result in a much lower tax increase for the year."You don't make a sale until you make a sale," Troiano said of his desire to hold off releasing details until a deal is done.Bruno questioned the decision, however, again to use a land sale, what he called a Band-Aid, to hold off what appears to be an inevitable tax increase."I'll offer the Band-Aid until I get these high-rises up," Troiano said.Troiano said that with a sale, the tax increase would more likely be less than 10 cents.Other residents asked about what is being done to increase revenues, such as charging fees for many of the events that make use of city beaches.Troiano said "the free ride is over," and the city will pursue revenue from those events.



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