Hillsborough Committee votes to combine $6.968 million in bonds, approves salaries and several resolutions

The Hillsborough Township Committee voted Jan. 14 to combine two outstanding bond issues into a single $6,968,000 general improvement bond (Series 2025) and to authorize the form and sale of that issue. Committee members also approved a package of consent‑agenda resolutions that included appointments and a resolution establishing salaries and wages for municipal employees for 2025.

The bond authorizations — read at the meeting as two separate resolutions — consolidate prior borrowing for road and capital projects and enable the township to seek permanent financing, officials said. Committee members noted the combined principal is lower than an earlier estimate after the township received a $900,000 state grant that reduced the financing need.

Mayor Matthew Ciccarelli told the dais the financing plan reflected the advice of the township’s financial adviser and that combining the issues and timing the sale should save money over the life of the debt. Committee members asked about useful life and why older notes were being refinanced; staff and the mayor explained the projects were completed after the temporary notes were issued and that permanent financing is now appropriate.

Committee members debated a separate resolution that establishes the annual salaries and wages of municipal employees for 2025. Some members questioned approving salary amounts before the township budget is finalized; the mayor and staff said establishing wage ranges early provides the CFO and departments with necessary figures for preparing the budget and avoids retroactive pay complications. Officials also said adjustments included a limited number of competitive increases intended to retain staff and align pay with comparable jobs.

All of the resolutions pulled from the consent agenda for separate consideration were approved by roll call. The committee moved the remaining consent items as a block earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 4 — Appoint members to the Hillsborough Office of Emergency Management Council for 2025: Approved by roll call; recorded tally — Yes: 4; Abstain: 1 (Committeewoman Robin Hand).

- Resolution No. 6 — Ratify appointment of Troy Lipany to the Open Space Advisory Committee: Approved by roll call; recorded tally — Yes: 5; Abstain: 0.

- Resolution No. 7 — Provide for the combination of certain issues of general improvement bonds, Series 2025, into a single issue aggregating $6,968,000 principal: Approved by roll call; recorded tally — Yes: 5.

- Resolution No. 8 — Determine form and other details of the $6,968,000 general improvement bonds and provide for their sale: Approved by roll call; recorded tally — Yes: 5.

- Resolution No. 9 — Establish the annual salaries and wages of municipal employees for 2025: Approved by roll call; recorded tally — Yes: 5.

What the committee said

Committee members asked how the new issue relates to prior bond series and why bonds issued in 2014 and 2018 are being consolidated. Finance staff and the mayor explained the 2018 notes were related to road work completed across 2018–2020 and that higher interest rates in recent years made temporary rollover preferable until permanent financing became advantageous. Officials said the package of options was provided by the township’s financial adviser and that the chosen scenario offered the greatest projected savings.

On salaries, committee members expressed concern about committing to raises before the budget cycle, noting private-sector practice of setting raises after revenue is known. The mayor and staff replied that municipal budgeting requires known salary figures in advance, that union contracts influence timing, and that limited increases were aimed chiefly at retention.

Ending: The committee voted to authorize staff to proceed with combining and selling the bonds and approved the consent‑agenda items. Officials said the bond sale was expected to be completed toward the end of January and that staff will continue to provide detail on projected debt service and the budget impact during the upcoming budget cycle.