The Clifton Municipal Council voted 4‑3 on Sept. 16 to adopt the city’s amended 2025 municipal budget, with council members debating the budget’s reliance on fund balance and the effect of cuts to capital projects.

Council action and vote: A motion to adopt the amended municipal budget passed on a recorded roll call with four votes in favor and three opposed. The favorable votes were Councilman D’Amato, Councilman Gibson, Councilman Latona and Mayor James Grabowski; Councilman Kolodziej, Councilwoman Pino and Councilwoman Sadracula voted no.

Why it matters: Council members and several residents warned that the adopted budget relies on one‑time surplus that will not be available next year and that cutting capital now could raise longer‑term borrowing costs, increasing future tax burdens.

Discussion highlights
- Use of surplus and cuts: Several council members and members of the public said the budget uses a large portion of the city’s surplus to reduce the levy increase this year. Councilman D’Amato defended the choice, saying the city “needs the money” and arguing the budget’s approach was preferable to repeated tax increases. Opponents warned the approach shifts costs to future years and reduces pay‑as‑you‑go capital funding.
- Public feedback: Residents urged caution about relying on one‑time money and asked for earlier, structured budget planning in future years. One resident urged the council to set earlier calendar dates and parameters for next year’s budget and to avoid relying on surplus.

Nut graf: The adopted amended budget reduces immediate tax pressure for 2025 but prompted concern that it relies on fund balance and reduces capital spending; several council members said they want a more disciplined, earlier budget process before the 2026 cycle.

Next steps: The council adopted the budget in the state‑required Section 2 format in a separate roll call with the same 4‑3 split. Council members asked the administration for earlier planning and a calendar of budget meetings to allow more public input and to identify potential long‑term savings before budgets are finalized.

Ending: Council members signaled they will press the administration for a clearer multi‑year plan and a schedule of budget hearings for winter and early spring to improve transparency ahead of the 2026 budget cycle.