Southampton introduces 2025 budget, a $5.5 million bond ordinance and CAP‑bank proposal

The Southampton Township Committee on March 18 introduced its 2025 municipal budget and a bond ordinance to fund capital equipment and improvements.

Committee members voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance 2025‑03, a CAP‑bank ordinance under N.J.S.A. 40A:4‑45.14, and Ordinance 2025‑04, a bond ordinance appropriating $5,500,000 and authorizing the issuance of up to $5,225,000 in general obligation bonds or bond anticipation notes. The budget and ordinances are scheduled for a public hearing on April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

Committeeman Arnold Harrison, the township's budget liaison, opened the budget presentation; Township Administrator Brandon Umba presented a PowerPoint overview of revenue, proposed appropriations and capital outlays. The Committee adopted three resolutions to advance the budget process: Resolution 2025‑49 (authorizing the budget to be read by title only), Resolution 2025‑50 (introducing the budget and authorizing publication and the April 15 public hearing), and Resolution 2025‑51 (authorizing the Department of Community Affairs self‑examination), each by unanimous roll call.

The bond ordinance lists multiple categories of capital equipment and improvements but does not specify exact project line‑items in the meeting record; the ordinance text was introduced for first reading and will return for public hearing and final action on April 15. The Committee did not change tax or rate figures during the introduction; specific tax impacts and final appropriations will be available when the public hearing materials are posted.

The Committee set procedural next steps: the public hearing on April 15 will allow residents to comment before final adoption; staff will publish the proposed budget as required by statute.