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Madison council introduces 2026 budget, moves $1.5 million for PFAS treatment design
Summary
The Borough of Madison council introduced the 2026 budget and voted to appropriate $1.5 million from the water capital fund to begin design of PFAS water-treatment equipment, while flagging an estimated $12 million long-term remediation cost that will pressure rates and capital spending.
Mayor Robert H. Conley and the Madison Borough Council on March 23 introduced the borough’s 2026 budget and approved a measure to begin design work on a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) treatment system.
The council moved and approved Resolution R107 to introduce the budget and set a public hearing for April 29, and it approved Ordinance 19‑2026 to appropriate $1,500,000 from the water capital improvement fund for initial design and engineering of PFAS treatment equipment.
Administrator Jim, presenting the budget, told the council: “We anticipate it costing the borough over $12,000,000 to remediate and install the appropriate equipment, so we can treat for PFAs at our water utilities.” He said the borough’s water utility generates roughly $3.5 million in annual revenue, which makes the remediation a major fiscal challenge.
The administration recommended pausing discretionary sustainability projects to preserve water utility reserves and to build capital for PFAS remediation. “We’re not going to transfer any funds from the water utility into the municipal budget,” Jim said, adding that the borough plans to let the water fund balance grow to help cover future treatment costs.
Council members pressed a range of options for covering the expense: borrowing through water-utility bonds, reserving pilot and utility connection fees from redevelopment projects, or raising water rates. Council member Range noted redevelopment at Geraldo Farms could generate significant new tax and utility revenue, while others cautioned that borrowing would require careful rate-setting and proof the utility can self-liquidate any debt.
The budget as introduced includes a 2% municipal property tax increase — described in the presentation as roughly $5.34 a month on the average home — and reflects cuts to the general capital program to prioritize critical needs. The clerk read that the introduced budget will be available on the borough’s website and that the public hearing is set for April 29, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Next steps: the budget will be posted for public inspection for the statutorily required period, the public hearing will be held at the April 29 meeting, and council and administration will continue planning for PFAS remediation funding, including design work funded by the newly approved appropriation.
