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New Milford council adopts municipal budget after auditoroverview cites pension, health and debt pressures
Summary
The Borough of New Milford adopted its municipal budget following a brief public hearing and an auditoroverview that said rising pension, health and debt-service costs drove a 3.28% spending increase and an average municipal-tax rise of about $199 for the typical revalued home.
The Borough of New Milford on Thursday adopted its municipal budget after a public hearing and a presentation by municipal auditor Steve Wilcox.
Wilcox told the council that 2025 has been one of the most difficult years for municipal budgets in his 46 years of practice, driven by higher pension and health costs and rising interest rates. "Spending's up 3.28%," he said, and listed major budget drivers: approximately $195,000 for pension costs, $171,520 for health insurance, $133,000 for workers' compensation and liability insurance, $81,500 for garbage, $98,504 for the statutory library contribution, $58,166 for sewer disposal and $224,000 for debt service.
Wilcox also described the local effect of a boroughwide revaluation: "The average residential assessment last year was about $330,000. It is now $643,000. That average revalued assessment of $643,000 would see an increase in municipal taxes of $199," he said, adding that the increase is about $15 a month for the average homeowner.
The council opened the statutorily required public hearing on the budget and reported no public comments. Council members then moved to adopt the budget; roll-call votes were recorded for resolutions to waive reading and to adopt the municipal budget.
Nut graf: The adopted budget responds to fixed cost pressures that the borough cannot control (pension, benefits, debt service) even as officials say they trimmed controllable departmental spending. Wilcox said the borough reduced controllable spending by about $190,000 compared with last year but still must absorb externally driven increases.
In the council discussion, members asked for clarification about which parts of the levy are mandated. Wilcox explained the statutory nature of the library contribution and other mandated costs, and emphasized that a revaluation changes assessed values and therefore affects dollar amounts calculated under those statutes.
Ending: The council completed the required budget-adoption motions by roll call. The borough clerk posted the full budget on the borough website as noted during the meeting; the council did not receive public comment during the hearing.
