It’s a uniquely New Jersey tradition: buying a beach badge to get on the sand each summer.

But how much cash do towns take in from badge sales, and where is that money going?

Under a bill introduced in the state Assembly, towns that charge for beach badges would be required to outline what it costs to run the beach, how much they earn from beach badges and how the town plans to spend any excess beach badge revenue.

Under the proposed law, the financial disclosures would have to be included in each town’s public access plan. Towns are required to file the document with the state to make sure beach management is “consistent with the public trust doctrine.”

Under current state law, towns are allowed to charge a fee for access to the beach but any revenue generated from the sale of beach

See Full Page