Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Bernards Township adopts $49.8 million 2026 budget; tax rate down 2.52%
Summary
Bernards Township Committee on an April 2026 evening adopted the 2026 municipal budget and the golf utility budget, setting a $49,773,968 total appropriation and a tax levy of $24,315,594. Officials said the drop in the tax rate reflects growth in ratables and spending controls, while rising health‑care costs remain a key pressure.
Bernards Township on the evening of its April meeting adopted the 2026 municipal budget and a separate golf utility budget, setting total appropriations at $49,773,968 and a tax levy of $24,315,594. Chief Financial Officer Sean McCarthy told the committee the tax rate is 0.246 per $100 of assessed value, a 2.52% decline from last year’s 0.253.
"Our total budget stands at, proposed $49,773,968," McCarthy said while reviewing budget highlights, noting the draft presented at introduction remained unchanged for adoption.
The presentation said the overall operating increase is about 4.33% and singled out employee health‑care as the single largest driver of cost growth. McCarthy attributed roughly $550,000 of a $1,000,000 increase in an expense category to health‑care costs and outlined a capital program of about $7.7 million for infrastructure and equipment.
During the public hearing Vanati Raghupati of Constitution Bay urged the township to analyze alternatives to the state health benefits plan and called for an independent study comparing private‑sector options with the state plan. "Our residents are facing planned large property tax increases that is affecting us all," Raghupati said, urging caution before committing to what she described as long‑term state requirements.
Committee members praised staff work on the budget and discussed state‑level pressures from the state health benefits plan. Committeeman Andrew McNally and others said the township has worked to mitigate increases while maintaining pay‑as‑you‑go capital funding and shared‑service efficiencies. Deputy Mayor Todd Tompkins moved the adoption resolution; the motion passed on a roll call vote with all members voting yes.
The adopted budget documents and a user‑friendly summary are posted on the township’s website. The committee also separately adopted a $642,235 golf utility budget; the governing body described the golf utility as self‑funding and independent of the municipal tax levy.
Next steps: the township will implement the 2026 appropriations as adopted and monitor ongoing state developments related to municipal health‑benefit policy.
