Morristown unveils $51.7 million budget; council puts open-space question on November ballot and introduces several ordinances

Mayor and town officials presented a proposed operating budget of $51,700,000 and a package of ordinances on April 22 as the Morristown Town Council opened the public meeting.

The mayor said redevelopment increased the town’s revenues and cited a roughly $3.5 million gain in direct revenue this year; Business Administrator Jillian Barrick detailed the budget and cautioned that health-care costs are a major upward pressure. "We are still expecting a 22.8% increase in health care costs next year," Barrick said during the presentation.

The budget proposal calls for modest municipal tax-rate movement, described in the presentation as a "1.9 pennies" increase in the municipal tax rate (the administration described that as a small, incremental increase in the municipal portion of the bill). The proposed budget includes continued investment in public safety, parks and recreation, and capital work; the administration highlighted Sanofi’s new U.S. facility as a key commercial revenue driver and pointed to ongoing park-restroom upgrades, a new walking trail at Bud Street Playground and stormwater work funded in part by a grant of more than $400,000.

Council members introduced six ordinances for first reading and adopted two ordinances after public hearing. Among the ordinances introduced was O-19-2025, which would place a public question on the November ballot asking voters whether to establish an Open Space Trust Fund funded by a dedicated tax rate between 1 and 5 cents per $100 of assessed value. Councilman Polipchuk, who led the drive to put the question before voters, described O-19-2025 as a voter decision rather than a council tax imposition: "What this ordinance does is does not create a new tax...What this ordinance does is puts the vote to the voters," he said at the meeting.

Other introduced ordinances include a municipal budget-cap waiver (O-14-2025), purchase-authorizing ordinances for Block 801 Lot 3 from the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles (O-15-2025 and related bond ordinance O-16-2025), a sewer capital appropriation ordinance (O-17-2025) and a capital-improvements bond ordinance (O-18-2025). Two ordinances were adopted at the meeting: O-12-2025 (salary and compensation schedule) and O-13-2025 (a handicap parking space placard amendment).

On capital and finance, the administration reported the town’s net outstanding debt near $23.5 million, scheduled principal payments of about $2.5 million for the year, and pay‑as‑you‑go sewer operations (no new sewer debt planned). The presentation outlined $1.5 million for parks and recreation capital projects and noted rising insurance and sanitation costs as budget pressures.

Council members voted to introduce each ordinance by roll call and scheduled public hearings for May 13 for the newly introduced ordinances. The council also approved routine consent items earlier in the meeting, including minutes and facility-use permits for summer events.

The budget will return for further review and formal adoption in subsequent meetings; the administration invited council members and residents to review details and contact the business office with questions.

Ending: The administration said it would continue refining the proposal ahead of the adoption hearing; council members scheduled public hearings on the introduced ordinances for May 13 and will consider the budget in the coming weeks.