West Windsor adopts $57.7 million 2026 budget, raises municipal tax rate 3.4 cents

West Windsor Township Council voted unanimously on May 11 to adopt the 2026 municipal budget, approving a $57,685,650 spending plan that raises the township's municipal tax rate by 3.4 cents.

The mayor opened the budget presentation and summarized the top‑line change: "these are the 2026 tax increases. The municipal tax increase is 3.4 cents," noting school and county components on top of the municipal increase. Business Administrator John provided numerical detail: "Our total budget for 2026 is $57,685,650," and said the municipal tax levy to be collected is $28,550,275.

Why it matters: the budget package reflects rising local costs—especially employee health insurance and salary changes—alongside revenue steps the township has taken to blunt the impact. Council members and administration framed the vote as necessary to cover projected increases and preserve essential services.

Major drivers and offsets

- Health insurance: administration said group health costs rose sharply and were the largest single expense driver; the mayor cited a year‑over‑year jump on the order of the mid‑30s percent range for the municipal plan. John confirmed group health insurance was the top appropriation increase.

- Salaries and new hires: salary and wages rose in the budget (the administration attributed most of that increase to a fuller year of salaries for seven positions hired last year, including police officers, EMTs, DPW staff and a fire engineer).

- Refuse and recycling: contract and tipping‑fee increases for garbage and recycling were flagged as ongoing upward pressures.

- Surplus and one‑time support: the adopted budget uses a portion of the township's surplus (the administration noted roughly $225,000 was borrowed from reserve to smooth the budget). Officials emphasized the surplus was intentionally built in prior years and will decline under the adopted plan.

- Princeton University payment: John said a negotiated agreement with Princeton University provides roughly $800,000 in annual, unrestricted payments to the township and credited that revenue as a significant offset to taxes.

What residents will pay

Based on the administration's calculations, the average residential assessment in 2026 is $522,396; the municipal portion of taxes translates to roughly $248.25 per year for an average household, an increase of about $177.61 per year (approximately $14.80 per month) compared with the prior year when combining municipal, school and county components as presented at the hearing.

Formal steps and votes

Council opened a public hearing on the budget (no public speakers were recorded). The council first adopted Ordinance 2026‑13, which allows the township to exceed municipal appropriation limits and establish a cap bank under NJSA 4A:4‑45.14, then moved to adopt the 2026 budget. Recorded roll‑call votes on both the ordinance and the budget were unanimous in the affirmative (yes votes recorded by the clerk: Charles; Jivers; Mandel; Weiss; Gawas).

What happens next

Officials said the final budget book and the presentation slides will be posted to the township website and that the administration will continue to update residents about line‑item impacts such as sewer and refuse rate adjustments when those become final. The mayor and business administrator emphasized the township's goal of maintaining services while managing fiscal constraints.

Authorities referenced in the hearing included ordinance 2026‑13 and state statute NJSA 4A:4‑45.14. The council adopted the budget at the close of the May 11 meeting and adjourned at about 8:45 p.m.

Ending

The council's unanimous vote concluded the public hearing and finalized the township's 2026 municipal budget; officials said they will post detailed budget materials online and continue communications about specific rate impacts and program changes.