Gloucester County presents proposed FY26 budget, proposes 4.3¢ real-estate tax increase

Gloucester County staff on Monday presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $188,900,000 and advertised a proposed 4.3¢ real-estate tax increase to maintain current services and fund capital projects.

Miss Steele, a county staff presenter, said the proposal “is a condensed version of the proposed budget” that had been discussed at earlier work sessions and a town hall. The presentation, given with Maria Callaway, the county CFO, listed capital projects, personnel changes and revenue pressures that underlie the request.

The proposed budget would fund two large capital items by borrowing: Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station 1 and a substantial HVAC program for the school system. The county also proposes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees and an additional 6% adjustment for 911 dispatchers that “was forwarded from the state to us,” Callaway said. Utilities rates underpinning the utilities fund were balanced on a previously approved 14% rate increase, staff said.

Why it matters: County officials told residents that limited or flat revenue growth—particularly in real-estate taxes—plus rising expenditures and inflation are driving the request. Callaway…