VILLAS — Mayor Frank Sippel is looking forward to another year of infrastructure projects and a 2026 budget that aims for no increase despite rising health care and electricity costs.
Sippel delivered his annual State of the Township address Feb. 2, looking back on accomplishments in 2025 and previewing what the community can expect in 2026.
The township is home to the largest year-round population in Cape May County, with about 23,000 residents. The 32 square miles is home to beaches, restaurants and small businesses, as well as larger entities such as the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, the Cape May County Airport, Naval Air Station Wildwood and Historic Cold Spring Village.
Other key regional assets include the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, the Fish and Wildlife Refuge (2-Mile Beach Unit), the Bennett Bog Preserve, Bethel Civil War Cemetery, the Fishing Creek School, Cape May Lighthouse, Sunset Beach and the concrete ship Atlantis, and the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Finances
Planning for the year ahead is not without its challenges, including balancing the municipal budget and keeping the tax rate down. Sippel said Township Council is anticipating presentation of the 2026 budget March 3.
“The council departments are working to have this budget come in with a zero percent increase,” he said. “That’s our goal; it’s going to be a tough one.”
Sippel noted rising costs for the township, including increases of $700,000 for health care, $218,000 for mandatory statutory payments to the state and $120,000 in electricity bills.
In November, Lower Township tax assessor Elizabeth Ross updated council on the tax base, which has risen by nearly $38 million to $3.798 billion, an increase of about 1 percent.
The new revenue generated $398,848 for the municipality, $101,955 for the county and $25,680 for the three fire districts.
“When the tax assessor took a different position, it was vacant for a little bit,” Sippel said. “They went back through 2024 to 2025, and added assessments increased their value in the township by $75 million.”
Community projects
Over the past several years, the township has been working on improving safety at Schellenger’s Landing. Sippel said traffic-calming improvements such as rumble strips, crosswalks and rapid flashing beacons will help boost safety and improve the flow of traffic in the area.
“Solar power flashing beacons will be installed this year to help the public cross the street and not get hit by a car,” he said.
Other projects completed last year include the reconstruction and paving of Cardinal Road, the extension of five bayfront outfall pipes, pickleball courts and the reconstruction of Beach Avenue from Spruce to Maryland.
In February 2025, Lower Township authorized the sale of property at 9600 Seaview Ave. through an open public auction.
Sippel said it sold for $1 million and now is on the tax rolls. The township will continue to identify properties that it could sell.
Sippel said this year the township started a Hometown Hero Program that recognizes local veterans who served the country by placing banners throughout the township. The program was done in conjunction with the Lower Township Chamber of Commerce and the Citizens/Veterans Advisory Committee. Public Works installed the poles.
“It’s also for our hometown heroes, and we put Dave Douglass, who was killed in action, on one,” Sippel said.
Ongoing projects
Sippel provided a snapshot of ongoing projects, including the $4 million upgrades at David Douglass Sr. Memorial Park, which will expand the parking lot, add lights, a permanent bathroom building, a decorative footpath along Cape May Canal and an observation deck. The memorial will also be redesigned and relocated.
Another $4 million project is the Department of Public Works building and recycling center improvements.
“That building is way past its end date, it’s in real bad condition,” Sippel said. “Council looked at the possibility of relocating to the airport instead but that did not work out.”
The project is a redesign of the entire building, including relocating the gates at the recycling yard to improve traffic flow and improve safety.
Additional projects include phase two of upgrades at Rotary Park, phase two of Delaware Bay outfall pipe extension, the reconstruction of Ridgewood Avenue, the Lincoln Boulevard sewer replacement, the municipal pool house renovation, the Arctic Avenue storm sewer replacement, the Clem Mulligan Sports Complex storm sewer pump station and the Holmes, Gorham and Scott Avenues storm sewer and roadway improvements.
Higbee Beach Project
A significant ongoing project is the upgrade of the Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area. The New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife has been working on upgrades, including areas near Pond Creek, to tidal and freshwater habitat to restore the saltwater estuary and surrounding wetlands.
“This is a $33 million project funded by the state and federal government,” Sippel said. “It includes observation decks, nature trails and overlooks.”
Sippel said the projected end date is December 2026.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
