Roseland adopts 2025 municipal budget with under 1% tax increase

Roseland’s governing body adopted the 2025 municipal budget at its April 15 meeting, approving $10,470,798.71 in municipal appropriations and finalizing revenues and appropriations reported in resolution 147-2025. The clerk read the budget resolution and the roll-call adoption was unanimous.

Mayor Spango framed the budget as keeping taxes low while funding infrastructure and senior services, saying the council aimed to preserve services with “an increase under 1%” compared with neighboring municipalities that have raised rates more. The council credited grant and donation support for recreation projects and said the budget includes a $500,000 state grant to convert an all-purpose room into a community room for seniors and the public.

The public hearing on the budget was opened and closed during the meeting with no members of the public speaking. The clerk read the budget’s revenue and appropriation figures into the record: municipal appropriations of $10,470,798.71; an Open Space/Recreation/Farmland/Historic Preservation trust levy of $420,640.90; a minimum library tax cited in the record as $716,451.81; $2,900,000 in anticipated surplus; and a total revenue figure read as $17,739,147.30. The governing body then adopted the budget by roll-call vote (all members voting yes).

Mr. Watkins (the municipal clerk) said the budget was advertised and would be posted in the official minutes and on the borough website as required by law. The council directed the clerk to include the full budget in the official meeting minutes.

What happens next: the adopted budget will be published as required; the municipality said the budget takes effect as provided by law. Members of the governing body noted that keeping a low tax increase was a priority while preserving capital work and services for seniors and children.