New Jersey will not receive $84.4 million in federal disaster assistance for this past winter’s snowstorms after the Trump administration rejected Governor Mikie Sherrill’s appeal, leaving Lakewood Township without approximately $6.5 million in anticipated federal reimbursement.

The administration’s decision follows the state’s July 20 appeal of an initial denial of its request for a major disaster declaration following the February 22-23 winter storm.

The federal assistance sought by New Jersey included Public Assistance for snow removal and other emergency costs in 19 counties, as well as statewide Hazard Mitigation Assistance.

For Lakewood, the denial represents a significant financial setback.

As first reported by TLS, Township Administrator Pat Donnelly said Lakewood spent approximately $8 million on snow removal following an unusually severe winter, compared with roughly $1 million to $2 million in a typical year.

Donnelly said Lakewood maintains more than 120 lane miles of roads and removes snow from every municipal road under its responsibility.

The township relied heavily on outside contractors during the series of storms, Donnelly said, with some operations continuing for more than a week. The costs also included salt, brine, calcium and other materials used before, during and after the storms.

Lakewood Township was expecting an anticipated federal reimbursement of approximately $6.5 million.

With the federal appeal now denied, Lakewood will not receive that expected $6.5 million to offset its storm-related expenses, adding to the already cash-strapped town’s growing deficit.

Last month, blaming the deficit, the township cut its expected subsidy to the Lakewood Student Transportation Authority (LSTA), resulting in a sharp rate increase for busing for non-mandated students.

New Jersey’s request was based in large part on the extraordinary amount of snow removal and emergency response work required following the storm. State and federal officials documented approximately $84.4 million in eligible costs, according to state officials. The amount was substantially higher than New Jersey’s estimated FEMA threshold of approximately $18.5 million for the disaster.

The state’s appeal argued that the storm met the federal criteria for assistance. New Jersey officials cited approximately 24 inches of snowfall in less than 24 hours across parts of eastern and central New Jersey, while eight of the state’s 21 counties recorded record or near-record snowfall totals.

Despite the appeal, the Trump administration upheld the denial Wednesday.

The decision means Lakewood and other municipalities affected by the storm will have to absorb costs that had been expected to receive federal reimbursement.

The federal disaster declaration process provides assistance to state and local governments for certain disaster-related expenses, including emergency protective measures and other eligible costs. Without a presidential disaster declaration, municipalities generally cannot access the requested FEMA Public Assistance funding for the event.

New Jersey’s original request was submitted April 7, and the federal government denied the request July 2. Sherrill filed the state’s appeal July 20. Wednesday’s decision represents the administration’s final action on that administrative appeal.