Hillsborough committee introduces 2026 budget amendment as debate over senior funding and rising taxes intensifies

HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. — The Hillsborough Township Committee on June 9 introduced an amendment to the approved 2026 municipal budget and set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. on June 23, after the township’s finance staff read detailed adjustments required by the state.

CFO Christian (referred to in the meeting as both Bushel and Christian) told the committee that state review required changes to the introduced budget and summarized the amendments line by line, noting increases in anticipated revenue tied to a Somerville Business Park contribution (from $600,000 to $640,000) and multiple appropriation adjustments across deferred charges and operations. The amendment will be filed with the Director of Local Government Services and published on the township website for the required public notice.

Why it matters: committee members and residents focused most of their attention on two issues that surfaced during the budget introduction — a placeholder $1 line item the administration added for two local senior clubs and sharp concern from at least one committee member about the direction and pace of local tax increases.

Committeeman Briting, the township’s lead social‑services liaison, framed the senior discussion with population data: “Hillsboro has approximately 10,048 residents aged 60 and older,” he said, and added that about 2,405 seniors use social services annually. He said two senior clubs report a combined 645 registered members and combined balances exceeding $78,000. Briting described the $1 (split as 50 cents each in practice) placeholder for “Senior Chapter A” and “Chapter B” as a procedural step that “allows us to do it the right way” so funds can be lawfully transferred later in the year if available.

Officials said the placeholder is intended to resolve a long‑standing accounting practice the administration characterized as an informal or legally unclear transfer method. “We’re doing it the right way now,” a committee member said. Christian clarified that the budget contains a single senior‑groups line item split for chapters A and B to permit lawful transfers at year‑end.

Opposition and fiscal concerns: at least one committee member announced they could not support introduction of the amended budget, citing an 8.3% increase in the local tax levy for the year and a multiyear trend they said amounted to a 37% rise over three years (nearly 50% over four). That member urged more analysis of spending drivers, long‑term stability, and alternatives to avoid placing additional burdens on taxpayers. The remark drew responses from the mayor and other members defending the budget process and crediting staff for difficult trade‑off decisions.

Other formal actions: the committee approved the consent agenda (items 1–11) by roll call before the budget introduction, with Committee Bing, Committeewoman Gomez, Committeewoman Hand, Deputy Mayor Leani and Mayor Payne recorded as voting yes. A separate motion to approve the claims list (2026‑09) also passed by roll call.

What’s next: the amendment is formally introduced and will be the subject of a public hearing on June 23, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Members said detailed budget questions will be addressed at that hearing, and administration staff indicated they will continue working with senior‑club leaders and auditors to clarify balances and possible year‑end funding transfers.

Context and caveats: the committee repeatedly distinguished between legal accounting requirements and budget policy choices; officials said the $1 placeholder is a budgeting mechanism, not a statement that the township intends to permanently defund local senior clubs. Several residents urged better outreach to older residents — one attendee said many seniors lack internet access and do not receive e‑newsletters — and called for clearer communications about services and eligibility.

The committee did not adopt the amended budget tonight; it was introduced for public review and discussion at the June 23 hearing.