Ramsey council adopts 2025 municipal budget with 3.95% municipal tax-rate increase

The Borough of Ramsey mayor and council adopted the 2025 municipal budget at their March 26, 2025 regular meeting following a public hearing and a separate vote on a narrowly scoped budget amendment.

The adopted budget sets total general appropriations at $30,377,946.68, with the amount to be raised by local taxes for municipal purposes at $21,212,150.12 and a total tax levy (including library) of $22,855,738.88. Council members recorded a municipal tax-rate increase of 3.95% in the 2025 appropriation package announced at the hearing.

The budget includes a $2,220,000 principal paydown on municipal debt—about $1 million more than in 2024—and the administration said roughly 20% of that increased paydown is covered by grants the borough received. Borough officials told the council the town’s municipal debt remains among the lowest in the county and well under the state limit for communities of Ramsey’s size.

Borough Administrator Mr. Gose outlined the timeline and background for the budget, saying the numbers were presented to the public in February and that a brochure was mailed to residents ahead of the hearing. He explained that salary and operating appropriations increased overall by 2.04% from 2024 and together make up roughly two-thirds of the total budget.

During the public comment portion, resident Howard Schreiber asked whether shared services with neighboring towns—specifically combining police dispatch or police forces—had been discussed as a cost-saving measure. Mr. Gose responded that local dispatch is maintained by Ramsey, 911 service is provided by the county, and the borough could discuss collaboration with neighboring municipalities but was unsure how much direct savings consolidation of patrol staffing would yield.

Resident Patricia Schreiber asked about two line items: grants offset by revenues, and capital improvements. Mr. Gose said the borough maintains a capital improvement reserve that carries over year to year; if grants are received mid-year they are added through a budget amendment. He explained that a large federal grant received last year for firefighter equipment had materially increased that year’s grant revenue.

The council also approved a resolution to amend the previously introduced budget. Councilman Gutweeter introduced the amendment resolution and the amendment was explained as a reclassification of $60,944 of health-insurance costs from outside the state cap to inside the cap; borough officials emphasized the amendment changed only the line-item placement, not the total spending or tax impact. The council adopted the amendment by roll call and then adopted the full 2025 municipal budget by roll call vote.

Auditor Mr. Gaberini praised borough staff for the work on the budget and noted a successful note issuance related to the borough’s bond rating. Borough administrators said the budget remains compliant with state appropriation and tax-levy caps and leaves Ramsey approximately $1,000,000 below the state tax-levy cap.

Less-critical details recorded at the hearing included the water/sewer utility appropriations of $9,025,000 and the swimming pool utility appropriations of $980,000. Borough administrators said the more aggressive debt paydown positions Ramsey for upcoming long-term infrastructure investments.

Votes at the March 26 meeting formally approving (a) the budget amendment and (b) the amended 2025 budget were recorded by roll call as “yes” votes from the attending council members. No “no” votes were recorded during the roll calls on the amendment or the adopted budget.