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Clark Township introduces $32.47 million 2026 municipal budget; health benefits drive increases
Summary
The council introduced the 2026 municipal budget totaling $32,468,504.90, citing a substantial rise in health benefits and increases in police and 9-1-1 costs; public hearing set for April 20.
Clark Township’s council introduced the 2026 municipal budget on March 16, setting a public hearing for April 20 and outlining the major drivers behind proposed spending increases.
Clerk read the budget summary into the record: total general appropriations are $32,468,504.90; appropriations excluded from caps total $7,504,729.94; reserve for uncollected taxes $1,100,000; and the amount to be raised by taxes for municipal purposes is $21,493,257.47. The minimum library tax is listed at $1,371,175.
Finance Committee Chair Councilman O'Connor said the budget balances rising fixed costs and staffing needs while holding many discretionary items flat. He called out health benefits as the single largest increase: about $1,125,000 for the municipality and approximately $1,500,000 when including the SOAR authority and library. Police salaries and wages rose by roughly $440,000 because of contractual obligations and step increases; 9-1-1 operations increased about $292,000 to support next-generation dispatching equipment. Offsetting savings include approximately $532,000 in insurance and bonding reductions and a $265,000 decrease in recycling expenses following a new contract.
Councilman O'Connor said the municipal portion of the tax levy will translate to an increase of about $18.44 per $100,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at about $527,000, he estimated an annual municipal tax increase of roughly $97.13. The finance chair said the budget preserves core services and long-term fiscal planning while navigating elevated benefit costs.
Jim Ullrich (as referenced in the meeting record) told the council the state health benefits plan faces major cost instability, citing a 36.5% increase this year and projecting the plan could rise further; he described structural issues in the state plan that may require action in Trenton.
The council voted to introduce the budget and scheduled a public hearing for April 20; the administration said it will prepare a public presentation and post budget documents online for resident review before the hearing.
