Bedminster adopts 2026 municipal budget and approves roof, vehicle purchases and permits

Bedminster Township Committee on May 4 adopted its 2026 municipal budget and approved several related contracts and permits, all by unanimous votes.

The committee approved resolution 2026-092 to adopt the budget after a presentation by CFO Derek Macchia and auditor Andrew (Nisavocia). Macchia said the budget addresses rising costs — notably employee health‑care premiums and debt service — and that the township would use fund balance to cover debt service this year to reduce borrowing costs going forward. "We came in with a very reasonable increase to do that addresses all of our municipal needs in the budget," Derek Macchia said during the presentation.

Officials said the municipal portion of the tax levy will increase by about $58.89 per year on an average assessed home (roughly $4.91 per month), while the overall school tax levy increase approved by the Board of Education was reported earlier by a committee member as $1,240,000 (about a 6.77% increase). Macchia and auditor Andrew explained the town used fund balance responsibly rather than issuing new debt for some items, a move the auditor described as prudent given current borrowing and earnings rates.

The committee also approved several related measures:

- Resolution 2026-089: Award a contract (through a cooperative purchasing system) to Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. for roof replacement at the Jacobus Vanderveer House, not to exceed $125,000. Staff said an insurance claim will contribute roughly $96,000 toward the repairs, and the contractor expects to start after a May 14 preconstruction meeting with a tentative June 1 start date. The township submitted required materials to the State Historic Preservation Office for review and said the work will use certified cedar‑shake roofing specialists.

- Resolution 2026-091: Purchase two police vehicles from Nielsen Ford of Morristown under the Morris County cooperative pricing council for a total not to exceed $92,000; delivery timing depends on dealer availability.

- Permits: A fireworks permit for a Memorial Day display at Trump National Golf Club on May 24 (notification to neighbors within 200 feet, police and fire coverage planned, expected 9–12 minute display), a seasonal farmers‑market permit for Jersey Spirits Distilling (May 23–Dec 5), and three on‑premise raffles to benefit local nonprofits were approved without objection.

Administrator Robin Ray noted routine items including ballot box openings for mail‑in ballots, preconstruction work at Crossroads Park and a $51,000 CDBG grant application for accessible doors at town hall. Recreation and DPW staff reported the community garden ribbon-cutting and ongoing field and road work.

The committee took and recorded roll-call votes on the consent agenda and all budget- and contract-related resolutions; each passed unanimously. The township said final property tax bills will be mailed after state certification and county rate determination, expected in July. The committee closed the public hearing on the budget before adoption and indicated no additional public comment had been submitted during the hearing.

Next steps: staff will proceed with contractor coordination for the Jacobus Vanderveer House roof repair and finalize vehicle orders subject to dealer timing. The budget will be implemented for 2026 and monitored through routine financial reporting.