Trenton council introduces amendments to 2025 municipal and utility budgets; public hearing set for Sept. 16

Trenton City Council introduced amendments to its 2025 municipal current fund and municipal utility budgets at a special meeting on Sept. 10, citing a confirmed $4.5 million reduction in state transitional aid and a Local Finance Board-approved $12.6 million cap waiver. The council voted to introduce the amendments and schedule a public hearing for Sept. 16, with adoption to follow after the hearing if counsel so recommends.

The amendments were presented by VA Richardson, who told the council the administration had received “about $4,500,000 less than we originally, budgeted for” after the state confirmed transitional aid. Richardson said the city went before the Local Finance Board the morning of Sept. 10 and obtained approval for a $12,600,000 cap-waiver application, which the administration said made the changes a substantial amendment that must be introduced immediately so the city can meet Department of Community Affairs (DCA) deadlines and print tax bills on schedule.

Assistant VA Cherry described the next steps: “This is…