Board introduces FY 2026 budget to New Jersey DCA; authority projects modest operating surplus

The New Brunswick Housing Authority on April 1 voted to introduce its fiscal-year 2026 budget and submit the introduced version to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for review.

Mike Maurice, the authority's fee accountant, told the board the authority anticipates total revenues of $19,112,900 and is projecting a combined surplus from operations of about $521,990. Maurice provided a program-level summary the board was given in advance: a projected surplus for public housing, a surplus for the voucher program, and a surplus in the central operations and redevelopment line items. Maurice and staff also said HUD subsidy estimates accounted for the modest year-over-year change in expected revenues.

Board members asked procedural questions about posting documents and transparency. Public commenter Charlie Cradoville asked that introduced budget documents be posted to the authority's website promptly; staff and the accountant said the authority will post the adopted budget after DCA review and indicated they would work to improve transparency.

The board passed the resolution to introduce and submit the budget by roll call vote. Chairperson Wright, Commissioner Blevins, Commissioner Medina Hernandez, Commissioner Georgiani and Commissioner Dunlap voted yes. The authority will await DCA review; once the DCA approves or requests changes, the board will vote on final adoption.

Staff also noted a related interlocal agreement with Franklin Township is expected to increase to approximately $307,000 and that the introduced budget accounts for that anticipated revenue. Maurice said the authority intends to file the budget in the state's FAST system to meet the deadline 60 days before the fiscal year begins.