Ridgewood introduces 2026 municipal budget with 3.98% tax-levy increase; public hearing set for April 8

Village Manager Keith introduced the Village of Ridgewood’s proposed 2026 municipal budget on March 11, saying it “delivers a 3.98% increase in the tax levy” and attributing most of the upward pressure to employee health-care costs and recent snowstorm recovery expenses. Council voted to publish the budget and set a public hearing for April 8, 2026.

Keith told the council that an anticipated $3.1 million (stated in presentation) increase in employee health-care costs is the major driver of the levy change and that the village implemented a high-deductible option and a supplemental “difference card,” which he said averted a larger state-driven increase. He said the village’s unaudited 2026 surplus is about $7.5 million and that Ridgewood Water’s unaudited fund balance is about $13.2 million.

The manager outlined both cuts and priorities used to balance the budget. Reductions include postponing some reassessment funding and trimming professional planning services, legal costs and overtime; officials said some planning costs will be covered by escrow or the affordable-housing trust. Capital and service priorities retained in the proposal include a $2.75 million road-resurfacing…