Taxes and budget

Bernards' 2026 budget and property taxes

The Township Committee adopted a $49.77 million 2026 municipal budget 5-0 on April 28, 2026. The municipal tax rate is 0.246 per $100 of assessed value (0.253 in 2025) within a total 2026 rate of 1.661 (1.688 in 2025); the township reports no municipal debt and pays for capital work in cash.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

2026 budget adopted Apr. 28, 2026 (5-0) Last moved

What happens next

Fourth-quarter 2026 taxes were due November 1, with a grace period through November 10. The 2027 budget will be introduced at a Township Committee meeting and adopted after a public hearing at which anyone may speak; in 2026 those steps were on March 24 and April 28. The next Committee meeting is November 10, 2026.

A Bernards property tax bill pays for several governments. In 2026 the general tax rate is 1.661 per $100 of assessed value: 1.077 for the Bernards Township School District, 0.275 for Somerset County, 0.030 for county open space, 0.246 for the Township’s municipal budget and 0.033 for the township library. The Township Committee sets the municipal part; the library levy is part of the municipal budget. There are no fire districts in Bernards: fire and EMS are paid for through the municipal budget.

The 2026 budget. CFO Sean McCarthy presented the budget on March 24, 2026, and the Committee introduced it 4-0 (Res. #2026-0213; Asay, Hodges, Tompkins and Duarte McCarthy aye, McNally absent). After a public hearing on April 28, at which one resident spoke, it was adopted 5-0 (Res. #2026-0256). Total appropriations are $49,773,967.75. Taxes raise $24,315,594.30 for municipal purposes and $3,261,768.00 for the library; $16,000,000.00 of surplus is used as revenue. A separate, self-funding golf utility budget of $642,234.88 was adopted with it.

On the tax bill. The amount raised for municipal purposes rose 3.44% ($808,094.97), while the municipal rate fell from 0.253 to 0.246 because total assessed value rose 6.12%, to $9.88 billion. The CFO’s figures put the municipal and library tax on the average home (assessed at $931,637.26) at $2,601.09, up $116.55. The records describe the year-over-year change in different ways; the explainer sets the figures side by side.

Debt and capital. The 2025 Annual Debt Statement shows no municipal debt; its only gross debt is $28,690,000 of school bonds, fully deducted. The 2026 capital budget of $7,699,380 was appropriated in cash from the Capital Improvement Fund by Ordinances #2594 and #2597. The 2025 audit had no recommendations.

What residents can do. Speak at the budget hearing or in public comment at any Township Committee meeting; read the budget, audit and debt statement on the township’s budgets page; ask the Tax Assessor about an assessment. Corrections to this page can be emailed to info@localwhy.org.

The budget and your tax bill, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. Resolved $4 million of unspent 2025 appropriations returned to fund balanceThe Committee cancelled $4,000,000.00 of unexpended 2025 budget appropriations so the money would be credited to fund balance (Res. #2025-0446, consent agenda, 5-0).
  2. Resolved Cap bank ordinance #2592 adopted, 5-0With no public speakers, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2592, letting the 2026 budget's final appropriations rise up to 3.5% over 2025, "no more than $1,105,014.45," and banking any unused amount for two years.
  3. Resolved First 2026 capital ordinance, #2594, adopted: $1,449,000 in cashThe Committee adopted Ordinance #2594 4-0 with no public speakers, appropriating $1,449,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund for parks, building repairs, vehicles and systems.
  4. Resolved 2026 municipal budget introduced, 4-0CFO Sean McCarthy presented a $49,773,967.75 budget with a municipal tax rate of 0.246 per $100, and the Committee introduced it 4-0 (Res. #2026-0213), Committeeman McNally absent, setting the public hearing for April 28.
  5. Resolved 2026 municipal budget adopted, 5-0After a public hearing with one speaker, the Committee adopted the $49,773,967.75 municipal budget and the $642,234.88 golf utility budget 5-0 (Res. #2026-0256), authorizing $24,315,594.30 in taxes for municipal purposes and $3,261,768.00 for the library.
  6. Resolved Capital ordinance #2597 adopted: $6,250,380 in cash for roads, parks, police, fire and EMSWith no public speakers, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2597 5-0, appropriating $6,250,380 from the Capital Improvement Fund. With #2594 it funds the full $7,699,380 2026 capital budget without borrowing.
  7. Resolved Committee urges state reform of public-employee health premiums, 5-0Resolution #2026-0268 urges state leaders to reform State Health Benefits Program costs, citing a 36.25% 2026 rate increase for the Local Government Employer Group.
  8. Resolved 2025 audit, with no recommendations, certified 4-0The Committee certified that its members had reviewed the 2025 audit by Nisivoccia LLP (Res. #2026-0312, 4-0, McNally absent). The report, dated May 18, 2026, lists no recommendations.
  9. Resolved Third-quarter tax grace period extended; online tax sale authorizedBecause the county "could not release the tax rate," the Committee extended the third-quarter grace period to 25 days after bills are mailed (Res. #2026-0339), and authorized the Tax Collector to hold an electronic tax sale (Res. #2026-0337), later noticed for October 6. Both passed 5-0 on the consent agenda.
  10. Resolved "Understanding Your Taxes" public session at Town HallThe Mayor, CFO, Tax Collector and Tax Assessor held a public session on how property taxes are calculated, assessment and billing, and where tax dollars go. It was not a Committee meeting.
  11. Resolved Online tax sale of 2025 and prior delinquent taxesThe Tax Collector's online sale of liens for 2025 and prior-year delinquent taxes and municipal charges was set to conclude at 8:30 a.m. on October 6, 2026, after notices on September 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Explainers

  • Bernards' 2026 Budget and Your Tax Bill, Explained

    Who sets each part of a Bernards tax bill; how the 2026 municipal budget moved from temporary appropriations to adoption; what it spends and how it is funded; the average-home figures; the pay-as-you-go capital plan and the absence of municipal debt; surplus, the 2025 audit, tax bills, appeals and the tax sale; where the records describe the numbers differently; and what residents can do.

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Committee — October 13, 2026

    The Committee adopted a filming permit ordinance (#2602), school-hours no-stopping rules on Peachtree and Woodstone Roads (#2606) and no-parking zones on Church Street near the Liberty Corner Firehouse (#2607), and accepted the $835,000.00 federal grant for the police communications upgrade, all 5-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — July 14, 2026

    The Committee adopted salary Ordinance #2601, authorized an online tax sale on or about October 6, extended the third-quarter tax grace period because the county had not released the tax rate, and applied for an $835,000.00 federal grant for police communications and $1,447,960.00 in state aid for three roads, all 5-0. Three people spoke, all on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — June 23, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2599, as amended with the Planning Board's recommendations, prohibiting data centers in all zones, and #2598, a new construction fee schedule, both 4-0. It certified the 2025 audit, extended Ridge Oak's tax abatement 40 years, awarded Pleasant Valley Park court improvements and introduced salary Ordinance #2601. Thirteen entries naming 15 people commented on the former Lord Stirling School property.

  • Township Committee — June 9, 2026

    The Committee introduced the construction fee ordinance (#2598) and a salary ordinance (#2600), accepted two Somerset County FIFA World Cup grants ($164,100.00 and $50,000.00) and extended the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead lease to December 31, 2060, all 5-0. Three people spoke.

  • Township Committee — May 12, 2026

    The Committee adopted capital Ordinance #2597, $6,250,380.00 from the Capital Improvement Fund for roads, drainage, fire and EMS equipment, radios, parks and police equipment, and easement Ordinance #2596. It urged state leaders to curb public employee health premium increases after a 36.25% State Health Benefits Plan rise, and made seven police appointments and promotions, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — April 28, 2026

    After a public hearing with one speaker, the Committee adopted the 2026 municipal and golf utility budgets 5-0: $49,773,967.75 in appropriations and a municipal tax rate of $0.246. It authorized estimated third-quarter tax bills, adopted Ordinance #2595, and introduced capital Ordinance #2597 ($6,250,380.00) and easement Ordinance #2596. Four people spoke in all.

  • Township Committee — March 24, 2026

    The Committee introduced the 2026 municipal budget ($49,773,967.75 in appropriations, $24,315,594.30 to be raised by taxes plus a $3,261,768.00 library levy) and the golf utility budget, 4-0 with McNally absent, and set the hearing for April 28. It also asked for $1,840,125.00 in federal funds for the Pleasant Valley Park culvert and paths, awarded a cricket pitch and accepted the 2025 LOSAP volunteer lists. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — March 10, 2026

    With Tompkins absent, the Committee adopted Ordinance #2593, the Fourth Round affordable housing compliance rules, and capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00), and awarded synthetic turf replacement at Mountain Park ($960,826.00), a pavement condition assessment and a $250,000.00 federal funding request for stormwater planning, all 4-0. One person spoke.

  • Township Committee — February 24, 2026

    The Committee adopted the 2026 Fourth Round Spending Plan for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and an agreement extending affordability controls on Ridge Oak's 247 age-restricted units for 40 years to 2072, introduced capital Ordinance #2594 ($1,449,000.00) and received the Tax Collector's 2025 report, all 5-0. Two people spoke.

  • Township Committee — January 27, 2026

    The Committee adopted Ordinance #2592, letting the 2026 budget rise up to 3.5% instead of 2% and banking any unused amount, and #2591, a wetlands easement. It hired Boswell for a Culberson Road storm sewer study ($40,500.00), joined the county recycling program at $28.16 per household and appointed Janice Fields to the Sewerage Authority, all 5-0. No members of the public spoke.

  • Township Committee — January 13, 2026

    With McNally absent, the Committee introduced Ordinance #2591, a wetlands easement on Rocky Lane, and #2592, the 2026 appropriation cap bank, approved a second change order on the 2025 road program and appointed three Pool Commission members, all 4-0. All three public speakers commented on Allen Road.

  • Township Committee — January 6, 2026

    The 2026 reorganization. Brett Hodges and John Tompkins took office, and the Committee elected Ana Duarte McCarthy Mayor and John Tompkins Deputy Mayor. A 5-0 consent agenda appointed the 2026 professionals and board members, set the meeting rules, temporary appropriations and the 2026 meeting dates, and moved legal notices to the township website from March 1, 2026.

  • Township Committee — December 23, 2025

    A 23-minute afternoon meeting, with two members joining by phone. The Committee adopted Ordinance #2590, a riparian conservation easement on Briar Lane, cancelled $4,000,000.00 of unspent 2025 appropriations to fund balance, set the 2026 parks and recreation fees and renewed the shared municipal court for 2026-2028, all 5-0. One person spoke.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Committee minutes, March 24, 2026 (budget presented and introduced)
  2. Township Committee minutes, April 28, 2026 (budget hearing and adoption)
  3. Bernards Township, 2026 Budget Introduction presentation (CFO, March 24, 2026)
  4. Bernards Township, 2026 User Friendly Budget (state form)
  5. Somerset County Board of Taxation, 2026 Abstract of Ratables (NJ Treasury)
  6. Bernards Township, 2025 Annual Debt Statement
  7. Bernards Township, 2025 Audit (Nisivoccia LLP, May 18, 2026)
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