Clark Township adopts 2025 municipal budget with $53 average household impact

Clark Township Council adopted the township's 2025 municipal budget following a public hearing on May 19, 2025, approving increases in departmental spending tied to grants and capital purchases while estimating an average tax impact of roughly $53 per household.

Council member Joseph Manitti, reading a summary of budget changes, said department expenditures increased from about $30.85 million in 2024 to $33.6 million in 2025, a $2.75 million rise that officials said was driven in part by grant-funded projects including the Robinson House rehabilitation and a new ladder truck for emergency services. "Of the $2,750,000, $1,700,000 is allocated to projects funded by grants," Manitti said during the presentation.

Why it matters: officials and the finance team said the budget balances investments in capital and cybersecurity with efforts to keep direct tax impacts modest. Mayor Angel Albanese told the council the increase translates to "about $4 per month" for an average home valued at $527,000.

Most important details: council and administration outlined where the variance was concentrated. Manitti and Business Administrator Jim Ulrich said roughly $765,000 of the variance is fixed expenses such as contractually mandated salary increases, pension obligations and insurance premiums. Departments flagged as contributors to discretionary increases included communications (investment in desktop support and cybersecurity monitoring), public works (temporary summer help and street projects), and legal (anticipated litigation and tax-appeal work). Ulrich noted several capital or one-time items funded in the budget: bond-financed purchases including an ambulance and fire apparatus, roof repairs at the Robinson House, and expanded street paving work tied to recent utility compliance requirements.

Public comment and clarifications: several residents asked detailed questions during the hearing. Resident John Greaves pressed on specific line items including cell-tower revenue, the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) for volunteer responders and large swings in insurance and legal costs. Ulrich and Finance Director Christy Vieira answered on record, saying LOSAP account recoveries and timing produced year-to-year fluctuations and that consolidated IT and cybersecurity spending had been centralized into the communications budget for 2025. Ulrich added that the township is pursuing upgraded cybersecurity services to reduce insurance exposure and meet state-related standards.

Vote and next steps: after the public hearing council member Manitti moved to adopt the budget; the motion passed on roll call with all Council members voting yes and the budget was adopted.

Questions officials flagged for follow-up included pending bid results for recycling collection and final costs for cybersecurity procurements; the administration said it would provide details to residents who request them via the clerk's office.