Cranford committee adopts 2025 municipal budget, DMC budget and several ordinances

The Township Committee of Cranford on April 22 approved its 2025 municipal budget, adopted the Downtown Management Corporation (DMC) budget and enacted a slate of ordinances and consent resolutions during a regularly scheduled meeting at the municipal building.

The municipal budget resolution approved total revenues and expenditures of $48,243,383.19, and the committee adopted a user-friendly budget and related capital measures. Mayor Terrence Curran and committee members said the budget is intended to maintain services while responding to rising costs; the committee said taxes will rise about $20 a month for the average assessed home this year.

Committee members framed the vote as a difficult but necessary step to keep public services operating. Commissioner Miller Prunty said the operating budget is approximately $48.2 million and noted department wages and operating costs were kept nearly flat in several areas; a finance official reported salary and benefits increases and a rise in sewerage authority fees were key drivers.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-184A/B — Adoption of the 2025 municipal budget (total revenues/expenditures $48,243,383.19): approved by roll call (Commissioners Black, Andrews, Miller Prunty, Deputy Mayor Mary Gallo and Mayor Terrence Curran voting yes).

- Resolution 2025-185 — Adoption of the 2025 Downtown Management Corporation budget (amount $267,467): approved by roll call (yes votes by all committee members present).

- Ordinance 2025-03 — Establish cap bank under state statute (public hearing and adoption): adopted by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025-04 — Add stop intersection designation for Pacific Avenue and Locust Drive (public hearing and adoption): adopted by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025-05 — Streetscape/temporary closure concept (transmission to New Jersey Department of Transportation for review; public hearing and adoption): adopted by roll call. Committee members emphasized this is a procedural step for NJDOT review and does not change day-to-day traffic at this time.

- Ordinance 2025-06 — Amend health department license and permit fees (public hearing and adoption): adopted by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025-08 — Amend fees for Alcoholic Beverage Control registrations (public hearing and adoption): adopted by roll call.

- Ordinance 2025-07 — Fire inspection fee changes: reintroduced on first reading; public hearing scheduled for May 20, 2025.

- Ordinance 2025-10 — Bond ordinance to fund capital improvements and equipment (introduced on first reading; public hearing scheduled for May 20, 2025).

- Ordinance 2025-11 — Amend approved list of replacement trees (introduced on first reading; public hearing scheduled for May 20, 2025).

The committee also passed several consent resolutions (Nos. 2025-186 through 2025-192) and approved minutes and payments of bills by roll call.

Committee members repeatedly described the budget as “lean” and highlighted efforts to offset capital costs with grants. The finance staff and department heads were thanked for work on the budgets; Peter George was announced as assistant chief financial officer and Mihaela Lopez as financial specialist, as personnel items were included in the meeting's administrative business.

The committee closed the public hearings on the municipal and DMC budgets after receiving public comment and proceeded with roll-call votes to adopt the measures.

Ending

Copies of adopted ordinances will appear in the May 1, 2025, edition of the Westfield Leader. Public hearings for ordinances introduced on first reading are scheduled for May 20, 2025, and the committee said residents may continue to submit comments through the township’s usual channels.