Tinton Falls council unanimously adopts 2025 municipal budget after public hearing with no comments

The Tinton Falls Borough Council voted unanimously May 20 to adopt the borough's 2025 municipal budget following a public hearing during which no members of the public spoke.

Council approved three budget-related resolutions by roll call: R‑25‑91 (reading the budget by title), R‑25‑92 (certifying the self‑examination of the 2025 municipal budget) and R‑25‑903 (adopting the 2025 municipal budget). Each resolution passed on unanimous voice or roll‑call votes by the council members present.

The vote came after Borough CFO Fallon presented the borough's 2024 audit results and described the report as “excellent.” Fallon said auditors issued clean opinions on both the financial statements and the borough's internal controls and made “no comments or recommendations for improvements.” The council did not take separate formal action on accepting the audit during the meeting; the audit was presented as a report.

Borough Engineer Tom Neff gave an operational update ahead of the budget vote, saying the borough's road program was “wrapping up” and was substantially complete on Hawcoxon Road. He also told council that a gas utility would return to portions of the Swimming River Road area — including Riverdale, AF West, Harmley, Apple Orchard, Neville and Leyland — at the end of the month or in early June to complete final paving and restoration after recent utility work.

Council members who voted in favor of the budget were Councilman Alessi; Councilwoman Buckley; Councilman Nesse; Councilmember Perique; and Dr. Dobrin. The clerk read each resolution title into the record and called the roll for the final adoption; the meeting record shows all votes as “Yes.”

During remarks before the budget agenda, several council members and the mayor noted community events and administrative matters: Business Administrator Tarifenko reported fundraising progress for the borough's “70 Fifth” event with about 11 sponsors so far; Mayor Clay listed recent outreach and Memorial Day plans; and Councilwoman Buckley congratulated municipal staff on the audit result, calling the absence of audit comments “really unheard of.”

The public hearing on the budget was opened and closed without public comment; the clerk explicitly asked if anyone wished to speak and recorded “hearing no other comments” before the council closed the hearing and proceeded to the roll‑call votes adopting the budget.

The council then approved the consent agenda and adjourned. The meeting record shows the council adjourned at 7:48 p.m.