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Monroe Township unveils $79.5 million 2026 budget with small municipal tax increase
Summary
Monroe Township leaders presented a $79,527,373 proposed 2026 budget that includes a 4.3‑cent municipal property‑tax increase, citing large spikes in health insurance and storm‑cleanup costs while keeping core services intact.
Monroe Township Mayor Delina and Business Administrator Kevin McGawan presented the township's proposed $79,527,373 budget on April 6, 2026, saying it responds to sharp increases in insurance, energy and storm‑cleanup expenses while preserving public safety and senior services. Mayor Delina said the plan reflects a 4.3‑cent increase in the municipal property tax rate, which the administration estimated would be about $12 per month for the average homeowner.
McGawan told the council the municipal portion of the tax rate would be 0.566 per $100 of assessed value and that the township's average assessed home is $338,100. He listed major cost drivers: a 29% rise in health‑insurance premiums that required an additional $2.4 million in appropriations, roughly $800,000 in higher liability insurance, higher tipping and landfill fees, fuel and parts price increases, and more than $520,000 in storm‑cleanup costs following several severe storms.
To limit the impact on taxpayers, staff said they identified more than $1.5 million in strategic reductions that avoid cuts to police, EMS and senior programs. Officials said controls include leaving certain vacancies unfilled and pausing new full‑time hires; the administration also plans to expand cooperative purchasing and pursue grant funding for capital projects such as James Monroe Park improvements and paving tied to DOT grants.
Gary Higgins of PKF O'Connor Davies, the township's municipal accountant, told the council his technical review found the budget "satisfying" under the circumstances and noted the township did not use its cap bank. The budget will be submitted to the Division of Local Government Services for formal review before a public hearing and adoption next month.
Council members and the administration emphasized the township's effort to balance affordability with service levels. The administration also flagged a planned modest increase to water and sewer fees and reiterated commitments to ongoing capital projects and to seeking state and federal funding to offset costs.
The council did not adopt the budget at the April 6 meeting; the administration said it will return for the legally required public hearing and formal vote in May.
