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Nutley adopts amended 2026 budget after hearing; board absorbs $500,000 water cost to avoid rate increase
Summary
After a public hearing, the Nutley Board of Commissioners adopted an amended 2026 municipal budget that reallocates $500,000 in water and sewer costs into the operating budget to avoid a 2026 rate increase; the package produces an estimated $800 average tax increase for the typical homeowner.
The Nutley Board of Commissioners on June 4 adopted an amended 2026 municipal budget following a public hearing and roll‑call vote.
Commissioner John Evans, who led the presentation, said the amendment allows the township to absorb $500,000 of water and sewer utility costs into the municipal operating budget “without increasing the municipal budget and therefore avoid having to do a rate increase for 2026.” The presentation and supporting materials were posted online, Evans added.
The budget package the board adopted breaks the average homeowner’s expected tax increase into municipal, school and county components: a $322 municipal increase, an $18 library increase (statutory), a $410 school increase and an estimated $50 county increase, producing an average total increase of about $800 for a house assessed at $494,000. The municipal portion requires a levy of roughly $47 million, the presentation stated.
Mayor Kelly and commissioners said much of the year‑over‑year pressure came from a sharp rise in health‑insurance costs. Kelly said the township faced a roughly $3 million premium increase; commissioners said local steps reduced the immediate increase but warned the issue depends on state‑level program changes.
Evans said the amendment also specifies allocation of the $500,000 absorption: roughly $300,000 will be directed to the school district next year to cover its share of water costs. The board certified compliance with required state and federal budget submission documents before the vote.
The resolution to adopt the amended budget passed on a unanimous roll call. The board also approved a related certification attesting that local hiring practices comply with federal EEOC guidance on consideration of arrest and conviction records, a required step before submitting the approved budget to the state Division of Local Government Services.
The board invited residents with questions to submit them via the treasurer’s email listed in the published presentation; the CFO and staff will respond, Commissioner Evans said.
The board scheduled follow‑up hearings and will post additional budget materials online.
