It will now cost $1 to use the new public bathrooms in Seaside Heights. Town officials say that it isn’t their doing, but that of the developers.

Mayor Tony Vaz says when the planning board approved the Dupont Avenue development, free public bathrooms would be part of the deal.

“Not jobs that people want to work at. We always found it difficult, not only during the pandemic and especially now during the economic crisis of unemployment and people not wanting to go back to the workforce. It's a difficult job, but they made an agreement, I believe. It says free bathrooms and they should carry that agreement to the fullest,” the mayor says.

Beachgoers were split over the idea of paying to use the bathroom.

Autumn Siwak, of Florence, says that as long as the bathrooms remain clean, she has no problem paying.

“I don’t mind paying a dollar, that’s fine with me as long as I’m not seeing people’s hair or gross stuff everywhere,” she says.

But Toms River resident Lorraine Rogers finds the fee “disgraceful.”

“People come down here to spend money and have a good time. Going to the bathroom is the most natural thing anyone can do and to charge people for it, I think it’s disgraceful,” she says.

Boardwalk bathrooms in nearby Seaside Park charge up to $3 per day - bathrooms operated by Seaside Heights are free.

“You should probably let us pee for free because something on this boardwalk should be for free, especially something you have to do on a daily several times. It's ridiculous,” says Kat Ibrahim of Ocean County.

Mayor Vaz says an attorney is reviewing the developer’s agreement.