Mountainside council adopts 2026 budget; municipal portion of property tax to rise about $199

Mountainside Borough Council on Tuesday adopted its 2026 municipal budget and approved multiple resolutions and ordinances, including a bond ordinance for capital improvements and several personnel appointments. The adoption followed a public budget hearing in which the presiding official read line-item increases and funding sources.

The council adopted Resolution 62 to finalize the borough’s 2026 appropriations. During the hearing the presiding official said the largest increases in the operating budget were for salaries — the police contractual increase was read as $155,000 and other salary increases were read (approximately $109,200) — while the fire department budget rose about $57,800. Group insurance was cited as up $166,000 and utilities $52,000. A noted debt obligation increase of $456,266.41 is largely offset by a grant the official read into the record (approximately $457,000) and by planned use of sale-of-assets proceeds.

On tax impact, the chair read the example for the average assessed home in Mountainside (stated as $636,774) and said, “your taxes will increase the municipal portion will increase by $199.09 dollars and 3¢.”

Why it matters: council members said the budget funds ongoing operations and several capital projects the borough intends to fund from one-time sale-of-asset receipts so that the adopted spending plan does not require a general tax-rate increase beyond the stated municipal portion example. The chair said $185,000 of sale-of-assets funds are earmarked for recreation improvements and $400,000 will move into the capital improvement fund for longer-term projects.

Capital projects and grants: the council held a second reading of Ordinance 13-50, a bond ordinance appropriating $1,320,000 for multiple public improvements and equipment, including road paving (Charles Street and several other streets), pothole repairs, HVAC and security upgrades and replacement breathing apparatus for the fire department. The chair noted a New Jersey DOT municipal aid grant of $258,260 will help offset part of the Charles Street paving cost. Council also approved a resolution authorizing application for an NJDOT municipal-aid grant specifically naming resurfacing of Stony Brook Lane.

Recreation planning: the chair described a proposed $565,000 improvement to the Beechwood School soccer field (including leveling and a sprinkler system). He said the borough would fund and construct the field using sale-of-assets money but that the Board of Education must approve and ultimately would assume maintenance of the sprinkler system and the turf scheduling. The chair said there will be a planning-board presentation and additional public input before the board of education considers the project.

Public comment: resident Margo Baruch (1136 Saddle Brook Road) asked how pool-improvement discussions relate to the budget and when more details will be available. The chair said a series of public hearings about pool improvements will be scheduled and that sale-of-assets funds may be used as a down payment on a bond if the borough proceeds.

Votes at a glance (select items approved): - Resolution 62: Adopt 2026 municipal budget — roll-call vote in the affirmative by Councilman Dierkes, Councilman Matijak, Councilwoman Pacifico, Councilman Van Dusen and Councilwoman Watts (all recorded as "Yes"). - Ordinance 13-50 (bond ordinance, second reading) — advanced/approved after public portion closed (no public speakers recorded). - Ordinance 13-51 (appropriation $51,000 for DPW equipment) — approved on second reading. - Ordinance 13-52 (establish inclusionary zone L1H2 for affordable housing) — advanced on second reading; attorney referenced for specifics. - Resolution 64: Authorize NJDOT municipal aid grant application (Stony Brook Lane) — approved; mayor and clerk authorized to sign grant agreement. - Personnel actions: Resolutions approving summer recreation hires, appointment of Jasmine Ash (deputy clerk), Nedella Costly (part-time planning board secretary), Anamika Sanju (DPW zoning/assessing secretary), Eric Demnitz (DPW laborer), and appointment of volunteer firefighter Jaden Miller — all approved on motions and recorded or voice votes as read into the minutes. - Bills and claims: payment of audited bills in the amount reported ($358,143.45) — approved on consent.

What’s next: the chair said the Beechwood field plan will be presented to the planning board for public input and then to the Board of Education; the council moved into an executive session to discuss litigation, contracts and personnel matters at the close of the public meeting.

Attribution: quotes and figures come from statements read into the public record at the May 19, 2026 Mountainside Borough Council meeting. Where exact numeric wording in the record was unclear, the article reports the numbers as read by council officials during the meeting.