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Bernardsville schedules public hearing on 2025 municipal budget; borough projects no municipal tax-rate increase
Summary
The Bernardsville Borough Council scheduled a public hearing on the 2025 municipal budget for April 28, 2025, and officials said the municipal portion of the tax rate will not increase for the fourth straight year. Officials cited a $2.7 million revenue increase largely tied to the sale of a local dealership and rising health-insurance costs.
Bernardsville — The Borough Council voted on March 24 to schedule a public hearing on the 2025 municipal budget for 7 p.m. on April 28, 2025, and said residents will be offered a user-friendly presentation at that meeting.
A council member presenting the budget overview said there will be no municipal tax-rate increase for the fourth consecutive year. The council reported overall borough revenue rose by about $2.7 million, which officials said is mainly attributable to the sale of a local dealership. The presenter added that non-discretionary costs — including health insurance, salaries, utilities and liability insurance — have increased and that the borough intends to increase the use of cash for capital purchases to reduce future debt service.
Leslie, identified in the meeting as the borough chief financial officer, took part in the discussion of budget assumptions and thanked staff who worked on the plan. The presentation noted health-benefit costs rose “about 16.3 percent” this year, a figure the administrator and CFO said they would confirm in the written budget documents to be published before the April hearing.
Council members emphasized that the municipal portion of property taxes represents less than a quarter of the typical resident’s total tax bill, with most property-tax dollars going to school and county levies. Officials said they aim to avoid new borrowing where possible by funding capital projects with existing cash balances.
Next steps: the council will publish the full budget and hold the scheduled public hearing on April 28. A user-friendly presentation will be provided that evening so residents can review department requests, capital plans and any proposed changes.
