Town Hall · Cape May

Cape May, NJ town hall & government

Cape May spent $23.6 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $6,936 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Cape May's government.

Local leadership

Who runs Cape May

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Cape May's money goes

Spent
$23.6 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$6,936
typical New Jersey cities: $1,679
Long-term debt
$37.9 million
$11,138 per resident
Parks & libraries
$4.2 million18%
Sewer & trash
$3.7 million16%
Water & other utilities
$3.6 million15%
Roads & transportation
$3 million13%
Police
$1.8 million8%
Fire
$1.5 million6%
Interest on debt
$1.2 million5%
Administration & buildings
$853,0004%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$498,0002%
Housing & development
$418,0002%
Health & welfare
$156,0001%
Paid to other governments
$14,000<1%
Other
$2.8 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 36%
  • Fees & charges 35%
  • Utility sales 12%
  • Sales taxes 6%
  • Other taxes & licenses 4%
  • From the federal government 3%
  • From other local governments 3%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
  • From the state <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Cape May

Full-time staff
105
26 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$63,900
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
23
and 20 full-time firefighters
Administration & buildings
25 full-time2 part
Police
24 full-time4 part
Fire
20 full-time1 part
Roads & transportation
18 full-time
Parks & libraries
6 full-time13 part
Sewer & trash
8 full-time4 part
Housing & development
3 full-time1 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
1 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Lower Cape May Regional School District

Cape May's middle and high school district, shared with Lower and West Cape May. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$29,688
New Jersey: $28,441
Students
1,164
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$17.8 million
at year end

Where the district's money comes from New Jersey districts overall: 48% local, 46% state, 6% federal

  • Local 66%
  • State 28%
  • Federal 6%

Of the $29,688 per pupil, $18,269 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Also serving Cape May: Cape May City School District ($37,738 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Cape May pay

Typical tax bill
$6,165
a year · New Jersey typical $9,590
Effective rate
0.71%
of home value · New Jersey 2.11%
Typical home value
$863,900
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Cape May's government

🏛️ Official websitecapemaycity.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Cape May →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Cape May

Cape May is represented in Congress by Senators Cory A. Booker and Andy Kim and Representative Jefferson Van Drew. Mikie Sherrill is governor.

All of Cape May's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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Cape May

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