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Stockton Council adopts 2025 budget, approves ordinances and several contracts
Summary
Stockton Borough Council on May 19 approved the 2025 municipal budget featuring a one-cent tax increase, adopted two ordinances including a cap-bank measure, and authorized contracts for water-system repairs and a school preservation plan; council also backed a $12,000 traffic and pedestrian study.
The Stockton Borough Council approved its 2025 municipal budget on May 19, 2025, adopting measures that include a one-cent increase to the local tax rate. Diane McDaniel, the borough’s Chief Financial Officer, presented the budget and said the one-penny increase on an average $400,000 home equates to about $40 a year, or roughly $10 per quarter.
The council’s approval came by unanimous roll call. Council adopted Resolution 2025-41 to formalize the municipal budget and also approved Resolution 2025-43 to move $1,423 between state revenue lines at the state’s recommendation; the CFO said the adjustment has a net-neutral effect on total revenues.
At the same meeting, Council adopted Ordinance 2025-02, authorizing Stockton to exceed municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a cap bank under N.J.S.A. 40A:4-45.14, and Ordinance 2025-03, which sets minimum and maximum salary ranges for borough officers and employees beginning January 1, 2025. Both ordinances were adopted following public hearings that produced no public comment; roll-call tallies were recorded as Ayes: 4, Nays: 0.
Council also voted to authorize procurement and professional services related to borough infrastructure and preservation: Resolution 2025-44 authorized Qualified Purchasing Agent Diane McDaniel to award two contracts to replace a shut-off valve and related piping for the borough’s water system — Pro Tapping, Inc. (not to exceed $5,200) and Richard E. Yard Plumbing & Heating, Inc. (not to exceed $16,700) — with change orders allowed up to 20% and a combined cap of $26,280. The council awarded a professional services agreement to Michael Calafati, Architect LLC (Resolution 2025-45) for up to $58,500 to update the Stockton Borough School historic preservation plan; the project includes a 15% local match ($14,625) to a $43,875 grant already received.
Other fiscal actions included adoption of the salary resolution (Resolution 2025-46) establishing pay rates for officers and employees and approval of payment of municipal obligations totaling $153,893.76 (Resolution 2025-47).
Council members stressed fiscal prudence during the hearing. Brown noted that less than a quarter of local taxes support municipal operations; McDaniel said Stockton’s 2025 budget will rely on less fund balance than in prior years and leaves an estimated fund balance of about $913,000. “This is a sound budget which will take the borough through the year successfully,” McDaniel said.
The council’s formal votes were unanimous where recorded. The meeting record shows the public hearing on the budget produced no resident comments. The council scheduled its next regular meeting for June 16, 2025.
