Bedminster committee votes to seek municipal budget cap waiver over shared‑court costs

The Bedminster Township Committee voted on March 16, 2026 to authorize its chief financial officer to apply to the New Jersey Local Finance Board for a 2026 municipal budget cap waiver tied to an increase in the township’s share of a shared‑court budget.

Town staff explained the request stems from a rise in Bedminster’s portion of the shared court budget, which officials said could be removed from the local cap if the finance board approves the waiver. "This resolution authorizes the chief financial officer to submit an application ... for a 2026 municipal budget cap waiver," staff said during committee discussion. Officials described the measure as a routine precaution: the waiver is being requested to preserve the option of treating the shared‑court increase outside the cap, though the township may not ultimately use the waiver.

The committee approved Resolution No. 2026‑0062 on a roll‑call vote with all present members voting in favor. The motion and outcome were recorded in the meeting minutes; no amendments were offered.

If approved by the Local Finance Board, the waiver would allow the township to exclude the specified shared‑court cost from the statutory municipal tax levy cap for 2026. Further details about the exact dollar amount or the Local Finance Board’s timing were not specified at the meeting; town staff said they prepared the application to preserve options for the 2026 budget process.