With tinsel in the windows and a chill in the air, summer seems a century away. But how could Jersey Shore towns afford their Christmas presents without raking in some revenue during the summer?
Thankfully, a new analysis of beach badge revenue from the Press of Atlantic City shows that towns along the Shore took in more than $12.2 million in beach badge revenue, ensuring their survival over the winter.
Great weather and a longer-than-usual tourist season helped the Shore have its best summer since Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Badge revenues, which serve as a proxy measure of economic activity in the towns, increased by $412,000 compared to last year. That number discounts Atlantic City, Wildwood and Strathmere, which don't require badges.
The town that saw the biggest increase in revenue was Ocean City in Cape May County. Revenues totaled over $4.17 million, an increase of $131,000 over last year. Compare that to the summer after Hurricane Sandy hit, when badge revenue was $3.9 million.
Long Beach Township in Ocean County was the only town to see a drop in revenue, because sections of the shore were closed for a beach replenishment project.
A quirk of the calendar helped extend the tourist season. Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, was as early as it can be (May 25), while Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday of September, was as late as it can be (September 7). Next year, the gap between Memorial and Labor Day will be a full week shorter.
Read the full story here.