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Egg Harbor Township introduces 2026 budget with 1.8¢ local tax increase, $3.6M in new spending
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Summary
The Egg Harbor Township Committee introduced the 2026 municipal budget, citing a 1.8¢ increase to the local purpose tax and $3.6 million in additional expenditures driven by wage, operating and capital costs; $1.8 million in cell-tower sale proceeds will be used for community center upgrades and a police communications substation.
Egg Harbor Township officials introduced the 2026 municipal budget on April 1, presenting a budget message that forecasts a 1.8¢ increase in the local purpose tax and $3.6 million in additional appropriations for the coming year.
Mayor (speaker 1) read the budget message on the record. The administration said salaries and wages increase by $1,142,785; operating costs rise $1,553,812; and capital expenditures climb $1,366,648. The message cited a projected $580,000 drop in state aid and identified several non-budgeted revenue sources that bolstered surplus in 2025 — notably ambulance fees, a cell tower lease and cannabis tax revenue — which together helped increase surplus and fund one-time reinvestments.
The budget package includes using $1,800,000 from the 2025 sale of a cell tower to invest in the township community center (building maintenance, security and IT upgrades) and to establish a police communications substation as an auxiliary location. The administration also plans to purchase a new generator for the community center in coordination with the Office of Emergency Management to improve disaster readiness.
Officials said the township continues to maintain one of the lowest municipal tax rates among full-service Atlantic County municipalities (local purpose tax cited at 6.69%). The budget message noted the township realized roughly $84 million in new construction in 2025, generating approximately $562,000 in new revenues for the municipality. The committee also reported ongoing debt reduction and an anticipated principal repayment program that will continue in 2026.
Committee members moved to introduce the budget and adopted the introduction by roll call; the administration said the budget remains approximately $2,965,435 under the state cap for allowable tax levy increases. The mayor invited residents and stakeholders to follow up with the finance office and scheduled formal hearings as required by statute.
What’s next: the introduction authorizes the public hearing process required under state law; further hearings and final adoption are expected per statutory notice requirements.
