Morris County commissioners introduce $407.3 million 2026 operating budget; public hearing set for March 25

At their February 2026 session in Morristown, the Morris County Board of County Commissioners introduced the county's 2026 operating budget and approved a companion resolution allowing a cost-of-living adjustment up to 3.5%. The board set a public hearing for final adoption on March 25, 2026, at 7:05 p.m.

Commissioner Deb Smith, chair of the budget committee, told the board the introduced budget is structurally balanced and that the county continues a run of stable taxes: "This marks the seventh consecutive year of no county tax rate increase," she said during the presentation. The resolution introducing the budget lists total general appropriations of $407,320,993.15, less anticipated revenue of $104,630,240.37, leaving $302,690,752.78 to be raised by taxation.

Smith said that the introduced figure is inflated by the early authorization of grants and that, excluding grants, the budget figure is lower. She highlighted a $77.4 million year-end fund balance and Morris County's AAA bond ratings from Standard & Poor's and Moody's as indicators of fiscal stability. The presentation outlined that about 25.3% of spending is for employee benefits and 21.1% for public safety; the county projects using $31.6 million of fund balance in 2026 while regenerating that amount during the year.

A commissioner presenting allocations noted program-level investments including a $930,000 increase in support for County College of Morris, $5.5 million in near-term capital commitments for a health professions building, and increased homelessness prevention funding (a $300,000 increase that doubles the county emergency assistance fund to $300,000 and adds $150,000 specifically for prevention initiatives).

The board first adopted Resolution A to authorize the COLA policy (up to 3.5%) and establish a cap bank; the clerk read the resolution and Commissioner Deb Smith moved the adoption, seconded by Commissioner Crickus. A roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval. The clerk then read Resolution B introducing and approving the budget for consideration; that motion also passed on a unanimous roll call.

Commissioners asked no substantive amendments during the meeting and thanked staff for the work on the proposal. The board will receive public comment and hear objections during the scheduled March 25 public hearing before taking final action.