To the Editor:
In the article “Cirulli, Marte Seeking Re-Election in Barnegat” in the August Barnegat Leader, I read that “Cirulli said that for the past eight years, the annual township municipal tax (not including school and county taxes) has increased by only 1 cent per $100 assessed value.” I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this accurate? Is it relevant?
I’ve reviewed my own property tax statement and seen a five-year rate increase of 13%, from 2.804 in 2021 to 3.168 in 2026, an increase of 0.364. The local municipal tax component increased from 0.942 in 2021 to 1.003 in 2026, an increase of 0.061. That’s already more than 6 cents over just five of the eight years referenced … and 2 cents were added in this year alone. The statement does not seem correct.
I also reviewed various online financial documents. During the same period, the Barnegat Township budget increased about 29%, from less than $29 million in 2021 to over $37 million in 2026. The township workforce has also grown; the 2026 budget lists 107 full-time and 50 part-time employees (but I couldn’t find a consistent historical count to show the full trend). These seem like more relevant data points (ideally along with the associated benefits).
I trust that Mr. Cirulli and others are doing a reasonable job managing Barnegat Township and that there’s a sensible explanation for the different figures. What’s really missing – from incumbents and challengers – is insight into our key challenges and how each candidate would approach them. For example, the article includes that “holding the line on expenses” … “has gotten harder because of the rising health insurance costs.” Should we raise taxes, reduce the township workforce and/or reduce benefits?
How would each candidate make township government more effective and efficient? And how would each make Barnegat an even better place to live? It would be great to see an article or maybe a letter from each candidate with specifics, both accurate and relevant.
Cliff BartlettBarnegatOctober 16, 2026
