Wildwood is joining Cape May County’s emergency communications dispatch system in a move that will save the city more than $2 million over a five-year period.
The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously during a meeting Wednesday to make the switch beginning January 2026.
“With the safety of residents at the forefront of all decision-making, the city worked closely with the Wildwood Police and Fire departments to conduct extensive studies and analysis over the past few years to determine the best course of action,” according to a city news release.
Cost savings are a significant factor driving Wildwood’s decision to enter into a five-year shared services agreement with the county. The agreement is expected to result in direct operational savings for the city of $2.4 million to $2.9 million.
Additional savings, ranging from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, are anticipated through cost avoidance, such as replacing outdated systems and making necessary infrastructure renovations, the city said.
Wildwood is joining neighboring North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest as members of the county’s emergency dispatch system.
“After thorough evaluation, it was determined that transitioning to the county dispatch system alongside other municipalities was the optimal choice. The county system employs a regional approach to assigning resources, with the Wildwoods structured as a single region to streamline operations,” according to the news release.
Wildwood and West Wildwood already share communications services. They will “seamlessly integrate” into the county’s shared services agreement as the 14th of 16 towns in Cape May County participating in the program.
Wildwood Crest has renewed its shared services contract and North Wildwood has opted to join the system in February 2025.
“This collaborative model positions Wildwood to take full advantage of state-of-the-art technology designed to improve response times. By pooling resources, participating towns can benefit from cutting-edge technology that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive,” according to the release.
Wildwood Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski has been a key figure in exploring opportunities for shared services consolidation with public safety for Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest since 2020.
“These efforts underscore the city of Wildwood’s dedication to creating a safer, more efficient environment for residents and visitors,” the release said.
The city was awarded a Leap Challenge Grant by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to study the switch to the county communications system.
“After thorough evaluation, it was determined that transitioning to the county dispatch system alongside other municipalities was the optimal choice,” the release stated.
