September 18, 2026

Dear Friends,

The city is preparing for a bond sale next week, and in a new report, Standard & Poor’s assigned Ocean City an AA Bond Rating based on “Ocean City’s substantial property tax base and above-average incomes, historically positive financial performance, and well-embedded management practices, including long-term financial forecasting and detailed capital improvement.”

Ocean City has long maintained this exceptional rating. It’s a measure of the city’s fiscal responsibility, and it helps us secure low interest rates as we continue to make improvements to all aspects of the city. Our taxpayers benefit a lot from this designation.

Some of the elements supporting the 'AA' rating include Ocean City's:

• Having one of the largest tax bases in the state and very high property wealth metrics.
• “Well-embedded budgeting practices and a forward-looking approach to multiyear financial and capital planning, both of which are more comprehensive than typically seen for the portfolio. The city has formal policies guiding fund balance and debt management, in addition to regular debt planning.”
• A “predictable revenue profile” and “adequate reserves.”
• Commitment to embedding climate resilience into its long-term planning, including dredging projects, to protect its physical assets from sea-level rise and severe weather …  It invests heavily in flood-mitigation efforts, including installing pumping stations and raising the grade on roads.

I want to thank our entire city team for always working so hard on behalf of our taxpayers.

I also want to thank the Army Corps of Engineers, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company for their partnership in completing the important beach replenishment work at the north end. Beachfill operations are complete, and all pipes and equipment are expected to be cleared from the beach by Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and I hope you all will take the time to remember and to support efforts to account for those Americans who were prisoners of war or remain missing and unaccounted for.

Ocean City’s Morvay-Miley-Cruice American Legion Post 524 this week donated $17,500 to the  Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which supports first responders and military veterans by providing mortgage-free homes and building accessible homes.

The post has contributed $68,500 to the foundation in just the past four years. I want to thank Commander Bob Marzulli and all American Legion members for their tireless support of veterans and our community.

To honor our veterans, Wesley by the Bay’s Have a Heart Initiative is asking local businesses and residents to donate new winter clothing and essential items to be distributed to homeless veterans throughout Cape May and Atlantic counties. If you can help, please contact Kathy Speer at 609-399-6702 or kspeer@umcommunities.org.

I’m incredibly sad to report on the passing of Clark Manley. Clark was a Marine veteran and active member and officer with our local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He participated in our Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, and he was a team member with the Ocean City Police Department. Most of all, he was a true gentleman and great member of our community. Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to Clark’s family, friends and fellow post members.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy the air shows this weekend. The celebration starts with the Ocean City Airport Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Boardwalk Merchants Association President Wes Kazmarck will be this year’s guest for a tandem parachute jump with a Fastrax team member. The Parachute Pyrotechnic Show will go off over Ocean City at 8 p.m. Saturday, and the Boardwalk Aerobatic Air Show starts at 1 p.m. Sunday. All of these family events are free and more information is available here.

The season finale for the Ocean City Pops is Saturday evening, with the Righteous Brothers joining our local orchestra. The show is at 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier, and tickets are available at the box office or online at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice.

The 25^th annual Ocean City ALS United Walk on the Boardwalk starts with check-in at the Civic Center at 9 a.m. Saturday. More information is available here.

Warm regards,

Jay A. Gillian
Mayor

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