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.
- Taxes
- Environment
- Government
Meeting recording
Recording plays on the township archive
This meeting does not play on this page. The township's recording is complete and plays in full on the township's own channel.
What happened
What the record shows
Present: Asay, Hodges, Tompkins and Mayor Duarte McCarthy; McNally was absent. There was no executive session. Every vote below was 4-0 (aye Asay, Hodges, Tompkins, Duarte McCarthy). The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Proclamations marked National Agricultural Month, presented to James Milito of Milito Farms for the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and Women’s History Month, honoring the Somerset Hills Branch of the AAUW.
The 2026 budget, introduced
CFO McCarthy presented the proposed 2026 municipal operating budget and golf utility budget. The minutes record that the overall budget of $49,773,968 “is an increase of 2.46% over the 2025 budget” and that the municipal tax rate of $0.246 per $100 of assessed value “is down 4.33% from 2025’s rate of .253.” The CFO’s budget introduction document, posted with the 2026 budget, shows the total up 0.48% from $49,537,906 in 2025, gives 4.33% as the increase in operations excluding capital, grants and reserve, and shows the municipal rate down 2.52%; the state user-friendly budget form gives the rate change from 0.253 to 0.246 as −2.77%. See budget and taxes, which sets out each figure with its source.
- #2026-0213 introduced the budget: appropriations within CAPS $32,908,035.20, excluded from CAPS $12,076,339.01, reserve for uncollected taxes $4,789,593.54, total $49,773,967.75; revenues other than the property tax $22,196,605.45; to be raised by taxes $24,315,594.30; library levy $3,261,768.00; total levy $27,577,362.30. Hearing April 28, 2026.
- #2026-0216 introduced the self-liquidating golf utility budget, $642,234.88, balanced by anticipated revenues.
- #2026-0214 and #2026-0215, emergency temporary appropriations for operations ($32,059,803.20) and golf ($642,234.88) until the budget is adopted. #2026-0218 authorized the CFO to conduct the state’s annual budget examination.
Resolutions
The consent agenda included:
- #2026-0207, an application to Representative Tom Kean, Jr. for FY2027 Community Project Funding for the Pleasant Valley Park Culvert and Paths Project, requesting the full estimated cost of $1,840,125.00.
- #2026-0217, a cricket pitch pad on existing fields at Pleasant Valley Park by Keystone Sports Construction, not to exceed $59,377.54. See parks and recreation.
- #2026-0205, accepting the certified 2025 Length of Service Awards Program lists: 27 volunteers of the Basking Ridge Fire Company No. 1 and First Aid Squad and 14 of the Liberty Corner Fire Company. See fire and EMS.
- #2026-0206, a patrol officer hire. See police.
- A surplus property auction, Amazon co-op purchasing (title: not to exceed $95,000.00), a Health Department vacation payout and the bill list.
The March 10 minutes were approved.
Public comment
No one spoke in the first period. In the second, Todd Edelstein of Riverside Drive spoke about the budget, and Nancy D’Andrea of Vanderveer Drive about library events, a Flag Day celebration at The Ross Farm and a 100-year-old recipe contest.
Records
- Minutes (township document page)
- Agenda (township document page)
- 2026 budget introduction (township budget page)
- Video on the township’s YouTube channel. This page follows the Committee’s minutes.