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High Bridge adopts ordinance to exceed 2025 budget cap, establishes 3.5% cap bank
Summary
The High Bridge Borough Council on May 8 adopted Ordinance 2025-008 to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a 3.5% cap bank under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14 after a public hearing; the adoption passed by a 6–0 roll call vote.
The High Bridge Borough Council adopted Ordinance 2025-008 during its May 8, 2025 meeting, allowing the municipality to exceed the usual budget appropriation limits and establish a 3.5% cap bank under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14. The ordinance was considered in a public hearing before the council voted to adopt it.
Administrator Brett Bartman explained the ordinance’s intent to the council and the public. Resident Mary Murdock asked whether the ordinance would affect local taxes; Bartman said the Corporate Finance Officer would need to provide specific tax-impact information. The council opened and closed the public hearing and then moved to adopt the ordinance. The roll call vote recorded Councilmembers Conroy, Doyle, Ferry, Hamlin, Matos and Nowell voting yes; the motion passed 6–0.
Why it matters: adopting an ordinance to bank a cap allows municipalities flexibility in future budgets to authorize certain increases without returning to the electorate for a waiver. The council did not provide a specific immediate tax impact in the meeting; the administrator said further information could be provided by the Borough’s Corporate Finance Officer.
The ordinance was adopted on May 8, 2025. No amendments were recorded at the meeting and no effective date beyond adoption was specified in the meeting transcript.
