Mayor Small Continues Fighting for Atlantic City Taxpayers

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. has long governed with a simple philosophy: Taxpayers first, youth and seniors second.

That commitment has helped shape a culture in Atlantic city centered on fiscal responsibility, and delivering results for residents. Under Mayor Small’s leadership, Atlantic City has achieved what many thought to be an impossible task, and that is six consecutive years of tax relief for taxpayers.

Mayor Small and the city’s finance team traveled to Trenton recently with the goal of securing a historic seventh straight tax decrease for Atlantic City residents. While the city’s proposed budget originally included yet another reduction, it was made clear to the city’s budget team that municipalities receiving transitional aid, including Atlantic City, were ultimately required to implement a two percent tax increase as part of statewide aid requirements.

“Adjusting the budget to reflect an increase after working so hard to achieve a decrease was not easy, but it was done at the request of the state, which has been a strong partner to Atlantic City,” said City of Atlantic City Chief Financial Officer Toro Aboderin during a public budget announcement held at City Hall.

City Business Administrator Anthony Swan emphasized that Atlantic City was still able to keep the increase at the minimum required level, especially at a time when many municipalities throughout New Jersey are facing significantly larger tax hikes.

Mayor Small made clear this was not the news he hoped to deliver, but his focus remains on protecting taxpayers and doing everything possible to ease the financial burden on residents.

“Some factors are beyond my control, and this is one of them,” Mayor Small said. “But my commitment to the taxpayers of Atlantic City will never change.”

WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW

Even with the adjustment, Atlantic City continues moving in a positive direction. The city’s partnership with the State of New Jersey remains strong, with both sides continuing to work together to strengthen public safety, support economic growth, improve neighborhoods, and create new opportunities for residents and businesses.

From ongoing development projects and neighborhood revitalization efforts to expanding recreational programming and investments in city services, Atlantic City’s momentum continues to build. And Mayor Small’s commitment to keeping the taxpayers at the forefront of his priority list resonates more now than ever before.

“Mayor Small continues to be the strongest advocate for Atlantic City residents and our city employees,” added Aboderin.

Other 2026 Budget Notes

• Atlantic City’s total 2026 budget, including grant funding, is $283,840,902.
• Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum salary for city employees will increase from $31,200 to $35,000.
• In lieu of annual raises this year, due to uncertainty surrounding the PILOT program, city employees will receive a one-time stipend in their July paycheck.

CLICK FOR COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE 2026 ATLANTIC CITY BUDGET

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