Riverside Committee introduces $10.9M 2026 budget, flags cap‑bank choice to shore up reserves

The Riverside Township Committee on March 30 introduced the 2026 municipal budget, proposing a $10,889,000 spending plan and a $6,499,000 tax levy — an increase of about $390,000, or roughly 6.38% over 2025. Chief Financial Officer Michael Mansdoerfer presented the figures and the package was introduced by resolution that the committee carried at the special meeting.

The budget presentation laid out the primary cost drivers: salaries and wages (about $255,000), a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment estimated at roughly $120,000, and the transfer of two sewer authority employees onto township payroll (adding about $90,000 that will be reimbursed by the sewer authority under an amended shared‑services agreement). Mansdoerfer also cited a near‑$22,000 increase for additional court staffing and said debt service is up about $281,000 because of an aggressive capital program supported by grants. Operating expenses overall were reported up about $275,000.

Solid‑waste and garbage costs were highlighted as a major pressure point. Officials reported combined solid‑waste lines of roughly $1.9 million, with collection and disposal exceeding $1 million; the township said those costs rose by about $195,000 from the prior year and pointed to landfill tipping fees, consortium contract changes and requirements tied to the "MAX"/apartment complex as causes.

Officials described insurance arrangements (liability coverage through a Joint Insurance Fund and health coverage through a pooled Health Insurance Fund) and said independent bidding for health coverage would likely be costlier. Employee contributions toward health insurance were noted as substantial — an example cited was $560 per paycheck for a police‑officer family plan — with total employee contributions estimated around $200,000–$235,000.

The committee gave context on tax impact and assessments: average residential assessment was reported at $153,045 (up from $142,887 last year) and the estimated annual tax increase for the average home was about $138.41. Staff said total assessed value dropped by roughly $61,000, a discrepancy they planned to check further.

On capital spending, the township listed 2026 priorities including parking‑lot repairs, Fourth Street improvements supported by a $198,647 grant, an estimated $570,000 Park Avenue drainage project (including engineering), equipment purchases and roof replacements (about $400,000 across multiple municipal buildings). Staff described a financing approach that would bond grant‑eligible projects to maintain cash flow during construction, then place reimbursements into a reserve to service the debt; the committee said the reserve was recently close to $750,000.

The budget discussion also covered equipment and public‑safety items (Public Works vehicle replacements and a planned police vehicle and modular camera system) and a plan to rebuild an older street sweeper jointly with Delran for freight savings. Committee members expressed caution about roof‑mounted solar on older buildings and said they would prefer parking‑lot canopy installations if the township pursues solar.

Faced with thin discretionary operating funds (officials said roughly $400,000 remained of a ~$3.5 million operating base after large fixed costs), the committee debated using part of its cap bank to bolster reserves. The township reported about $700,000 in cap bank funds from 2023 that will expire in 2027; staff proposed using $100,000 now to strengthen year‑end reserves, a move that would raise the levy to roughly $6.6 million and increase the tax‑rate impact to about 11.3 cents (approximately an 8% change) instead of the ~6% increase projected without the cap‑bank draw. The stated goal is to raise expected year‑end reserves from about $70,000 to roughly $170,000–$200,000.

Mansdoerfer outlined potential revenue offsets the township may pursue, including the next phase of a PILOT program (estimated about $70,000), potential cannabis tax receipts if a cultivation tenant or second operator comes online, and additional ratables from pending residential projects including 19 houses, a 12‑lot subdivision and a small townhouse addition at 403 St. Mihiel.

The committee adopted Resolution 2026‑#50 formally introducing the 2026 municipal budget. Mr. Kimble moved to adopt the resolution and Ms. Horn seconded; the motion carried and the clerk certified the resolution.

On separate motions the committee also approved three staffing authorizations: appointment of a full‑time public works laborer (motion by Ms. Leith, second Mr. Kimble), appointment of a code enforcement officer (motion by Mr. Kimble, second Ms. Horn), and appointment of an electric sub‑code official and inspector (motion by Ms. Leith, second Mr. Kimble). All motions carried.

There were no public commenters at the meeting and the committee adjourned after approving the agenda items. The township said it will introduce a capital ordinance after budget adoption to "lock in" the capital projects discussed.