OCEAN CITY — A divided council this week voted in favor of beginning the process of nudging up the beach bonfire permit fee incrementally from the current $75 to $85.
During a budget work session last week, Ocean City Fire Marshal Josh Bunting presented revenue projections for the beach bonfire permit program. At the time, the council requested Bunting return with some more detailed analysis on the program and examine if there was room to increase the current fee of $75.
“You asked for an update on potential revenue and the bonfire fee,” he said. “Those fees are set by resolution. Regardless of what you decide today, we’ll have to move forward with a resolution to change the fees.”
The beach bonfire program began in the 1970s and has steadily increased in popularity over the decades. In 2017, the department implemented a streamlined online permit system that allowed residents and visitors to request a permit and pay for it practically in real time, which caused the numbers to really spike.
When COVID hit, with restaurants, bars and other amusements closed or operating under strict limitations, the number jumped exponentially again. Last year, for example, there were around 3,300 permits issued. Bunting said the current fee is $75 and there has been little pushback about the cost of the permit.
This article is rich with so much to opine about. I will table that (see what i did there?).
Unlike the OC restaurant namesake and their Jimmy Buffet, would the bonfire permit increase to $85 include all u can eat king crab legs?
BWAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.