Grant to be used for road repairs

PLUMSTED — The township has been awarded a federal grant in the amount of $737,000 to use for the resurfacing of nearly 2 miles of Route 539 between Long Swamp Road and Route 528.

Also, the Township Committee obtained a $110,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to pay for the construction of a new parking lot in downtown New Egypt. Bidding by contractors for the construction of the parking lot will open today.

An additional $50,000 is coming from the state to the town’s first aid squad to pay for a new vehicle purchase.

Mayor Ron Dancer said that for the second consecutive year Plumsted’s school district and municipal government led Ocean County in the amount of property tax relief received from the state’s Regional Efficiency Aid Program (REAP).

REAP is financial relief used as an incentive by the state for school boards and municipal governments to share the cost of services.

According to Dancer, of the 33 municipalities in Ocean County, only seven qualified for the tax relief aid and Plumsted was the leader with $125,924 in REAP credit.

According to Dancer, that credit means an estimated 4.5 points off the property tax rate paid by residents.

In other business, Dancer said he wanted to remind residents there will be a ground-breaking ceremony for the new municipal building at 1 p.m. Aug. 15 on Evergreen Road next to the new library.

The new 20,000-square-foot municipal building is estimated to cost $2.2 million.