High Bridge council introduces 2025 budget, schedules May 22 public hearing

The Borough of High Bridge council on April 24 introduced its 2025 municipal budget and set a public hearing for May 22, 2025. CFO Michael Pitts presented the budget introduction under Resolution 138-2025, which council members approved by roll call.

Mayor Michele Lee noted the budget discussion included mention of debt service tied to the Catanzaretti property. During public comment, resident Matt Curtin asked whether the budget included payments for work on the dam, asked when the dam bond matures and requested additional tax reductions; Mayor Lee responded that no funds are allocated for dam work in the budget and that the dam bond matures in 2031.

Attorney Wendy Quiroga, CFO Michael Pitts and Councilwoman Hamlin outlined that capital appropriations are approved by council as part of the budget process. Councilman Nowell moved and Councilman Doyle seconded the motion to introduce the budget; the roll call vote was Conroy yes; Doyle yes; Ferry yes; Hamlin yes; Matos yes; Nowell yes. The introduction clears the way for a formal public hearing and potential amendments at the May 22 meeting.

Council also introduced Ordinance 2025-008, which would allow the borough to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits by up to 3.5% and to establish a cap bank pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14; Mayor Lee said the ordinance will be published with a public hearing on May 8, 2025. The ordinance introduction passed on a 6–0 roll call. No executive session was convened on budget matters.

Next steps: the borough will publish the ordinance and hold the advertised public hearings; the council may amend the introduced budget following those hearings.