Ridgewood holds public hearing on 2026 budget; council delays adoption pending state approval

The Ridgewood Village Council opened a public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget at its April 8 meeting, with professional staff and auditors on hand to answer questions. Manager Keith introduced the CFO and auditors and described the draft budget as a proposed 3.98% increase over 2025; staff estimated the impact on an average home assessed at $715,000 as about $195 for the year.

Officials told the council they had not yet received Division of Local Government Services approval to adopt the budget; the council said a formal adoption vote would be carried to May pending that state approval.

During public comment, resident Boyd Loving asked about the Valley Hospital tax appeal and whether the budget had to account for assessed value and anticipated taxes. On the record, counsel and staff said state law requires assessed values to be included in the budget and clarified that collections must match appropriations — i.e., the municipality cannot collect and reserve more than needed; the municipal share of the Valley Hospital assessed amount is a fraction of the total (staff cited figures for municipal share percentages).

Resident questions about debt service prompted presentations from finance staff and auditors describing the town’s debt reporting (separate funds for water, parking and general obligations). Staff provided the figures disclosed in the meeting for authorized/unissued debt: water utility ~$198.65 million, parking utility ~$14.86 million and general obligations roughly $79 million (figures presented as the total authorized/unissued amount reported to the state). Council members discussed a long-standing practice of bonding and retiring roughly $7.5 million annually and emphasized preserving public safety investments (fire apparatus and other capital) while monitoring borrowing capacity and reserve levels.

Separately, the council introduced bond ordinance 4095 (first reading) to provide a supplemental appropriation of $4,000,000 for construction of treatment plants; the hearing on that bond ordinance is scheduled for April 22, 2026. Several ordinances on second reading (including ordinance 4090 related to cap banking and ordinances 4091–4094 on salaries, emergency management, fees and sign regulations) were read by title and adopted on second reading and final publication during the meeting.

Councilmembers and staff encouraged residents to attend budget hearings and to submit specific suggestions for service reductions if they believe cuts are needed. The public hearing on the budget was closed by vote and final adoption was postponed pending Division of Local Government Services approval.