Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Runnemede presents 2026 municipal budget, sets borough portion of tax rate at 3.48%
Summary
The Borough of Runnemede presented its 2026 municipal budget, announcing a municipal tax rate of 3.48% (about $76.54 yearly per typical residential property) and outlining capital projects, grant funding, and a planned reassessment of property values.
The Borough of Runnemede presented its proposed 2026 municipal budget during its regular council meeting, saying the municipal portion of the property tax rate will be 3.48% and that the average assessed residential property used in the presentation was $149,752.
Mr. D., who led the budget presentation, said the borough is conducting a reassessment that will raise assessed values in many cases but will not change the total tax dollars collected because tax rates are adjusted (equalization by county and school authorities affects individual bills). He gave a department-level breakdown that placed police at about 18% of municipal appropriations, insurance at roughly 16% and debt service near 10%.
The presentation listed grants and shared-service arrangements that offset appropriations, including public-safety grants (body armor), road and drunk-driving grants, municipal alliance and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications, and continuing cooperative purchasing arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions for services and equipment.
Council members and staff highlighted capital and maintenance projects tied to the budget: recent completion of a sewer project, ongoing road and stormwater improvements, public field and lighting upgrades, and improvements to the Harry Williams building. The engineer also flagged a proposed sewer-extension project estimated at $132,940 to address chronic water issues on a small set of properties and associated road repair.
Council members noted the borough’s centennial activities and encouraged resident participation in community events tied to the celebration.
The council moved forward with the formal introduction of the budget as Resolution 2657; the resolution was handled with the group of routine resolutions introduced that evening and advanced by roll call as read. The council scheduled ordinance first readings and additional budget hearings per normal ordinance and budget-notice procedures.
Next steps: the council will publish the budget documents on the borough website and continue the first-reading, notice, and adoption steps required by state law.
