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Monroe Township unveils $79.5 million 2026 budget, proposes small municipal tax increase
Summary
Mayor and staff presented a $79,527,373 proposed 2026 municipal budget that would raise the municipal property tax rate by 4.3 cents, citing large health‑insurance, liability and storm‑cleanup costs; the budget will go to public hearing and final vote next month.
Monroe Township Mayor Delina and township finance staff on April 6 presented a proposed $79,527,373 municipal budget for fiscal 2026 that would raise the municipal portion of the property tax rate by 4.3 cents. "We understand that any tax increase is a burden," Mayor Delina said, adding the change "equates to about $12 per month" for the average homeowner.
Business Administrator Kevin McGawan said the budget reflects a comprehensive, line‑by‑line review and cited specific cost pressures: a 29% increase in health‑insurance costs that required about $2.4 million in additional appropriations, an $800,000 rise in liability insurance, steep increases in winter‑storm cleanup costs (roughly $520,000 this year), and higher fuel and materials prices. McGawan told the council the proposed municipal rate would be .566 per $100 of assessed value and that the administration identified more than $1.5 million in strategic reductions — including holding vacancies and pausing new full‑time hires — to limit the impact on residents.
"Working closely with our department heads and our finance team, we conducted a comprehensive line by line review," McGawan said. He also described ongoing efforts to pursue grants and cooperative purchasing to reduce future costs and preserve public‑safety and senior services.
Auditor Gary Higgins of PKF O'Connor Davies said his technical review found the budget "very satisfying" given statewide cost pressures and that the town stayed within appropriation caps. "This budget will now be submitted to the Division of Local Government Services," Higgins said; the administration then expects a public hearing next month and final adoption thereafter.
What happens next: the council will hold the formal public hearing on the budget in May; the administration said it will continue to seek grant funding for projects and buy down costs where possible.
Sources and attribution: Direct quotations and numbers are from Mayor Delina and BA Kevin McGawan, who presented the budget and related figures during the April 6 council meeting. Auditor Gary Higgins gave the formal technical review.
