NORTHFIELD, N.J. — Atlantic County is lowering its property tax rate for the fifth consecutive year, trimming the general rate 2 cents under its 2026 budget while keeping health and library rates flat.
The $283 million spending plan calls for about $198.5 million to be raised through taxes. The county applied $22.5 million in surplus to the budget, a little more than half of what was available, to hold down the burden on taxpayers.
The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on the budget March 31 at the county complex in Northfield.
A five-year run
The 2026 cut extends a streak that began in 2022:
2022: the county lowered the rate 1.5 cents.
2023: the rate fell another 2 cents, with $13.8 million in surplus applied.
2024: the county cut the rate roughly five cents as part of a $262.1 million budget.
2025: the county projected a further decrease of 1 to 1.8 cents, using about $19.3 million in surplus.
County budget documents say the rate has been lowered 18 times in the last 26 years.
The county has paired the rate cuts with steps aimed at containing costs:
It has held top-tier credit ratings, which keep borrowing costs down, and has posted 26 straight perfect audits.
It has pursued shared services and efficiency measures, including paperless online bidding, solar panels and LED lighting conversions at county facilities.
It reached agreements with unions to move employees to a more affordable health plan.
It secured $1 million in federal funding for an aviation maintenance training academy at Atlantic City International Airport.