Taxes and budget

The 2026 budget and your tax bill

Franklin's 2026 municipal budget raises $41,722,842 in property taxes, 7.00% more than in 2025, and the municipal rate rose from 0.234 to 0.240 per $100. The Council adopted it 9–0 on May 26. In 2025 the township's share of all property-tax levies was 13.41%; the school district's was 61.11%.

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

2026 budget adopted May 26, 9–0; 2027 budget not yet introduced Last moved

What happens next

Fourth-quarter taxes were due November 1, with a grace period through November 10, 2026. The Council meets November 10, November 24 and December 8, 2026, 7:00 p.m., 475 DeMott Lane. In 2026 the budget hearings were held in March and the budget was introduced in late April; no 2027 dates are set yet.

A Franklin tax bill pays for several budgets. In 2026 the general tax rate is 1.745 per $100 of assessed value: the local school district 1.116, Somerset County 0.276 plus 0.030 for county open space, and the township 0.240 for municipal purposes, 0.050 for open space and 0.033 for the library. Fire district taxes are billed on top. The Township Council sets only the municipal parts.

The 2026 municipal budget totals $75,455,645.64 as amended. It raises $41,722,842 in property taxes for municipal purposes, $2,729,532 or 7.00% more than in 2025. Because total assessed value also rose, the municipal rate went from 0.234 to 0.240. On the township’s figures, the municipal tax on the average home (assessed at $572,541) rose from $1,299.83 to $1,374.10, or $74.26. The budget uses $10,322,254.11 of surplus as revenue.

How it passed. The Council held two remote budget hearings in March, where no member of the public spoke. It introduced the budget April 28 (that meeting has no minutes posted), adopted a 3.5% cap ordinance and the 2026 bond ordinances 6–0 on May 12, and adopted the amended budget 9–0 on May 26, 2026.

Debt. Net debt was $72,601,071.10, or 0.465% of equalized valuation, at the end of 2025, and 0.503% after the 2026 bond ordinances.

Tax appeals. On October 29, 2026 the state Tax Court listed 91 open dockets involving Franklin, most brought by businesses; four were filed by the township. The township’s tax appeal refund reserve held $2,690,553.46 at the end of 2025.

What residents said. In 2026 residents spoke about property-tax increases at the May 26 budget hearing and on September 8, and asked about tax deals for new housing on October 13. Tax exemptions and PILOTs for specific projects are covered under redevelopment and PILOTs.

Residents can comment at the budget hearings and Council meetings, read the budget documents on the Finance page, and appeal an assessment to the Somerset County Board of Taxation.

The 2026 budget and your tax bill, explained

Timeline

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

  1. Resolved CY2024 audit certified; corrective action plan adoptedOn the consent agenda, 9–0, the Council certified the CY2024 audit (Res. 25-479) and adopted a corrective action plan on its two recommendations: review and dispose of old grant balances, and liquidate interfund balances (Res. 25-480).
  2. Pending Council asks the Sewerage Authority for $100,000 of its surplusRes. 25-512, adopted on the consent agenda 7–0, asks the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority to "authorize, appropriate and transfer" $100,000 of surplus to the township budget. The township's CY2025 audit shows the $100,000 as not received, and the 2026 budget anticipates it again.
  3. Resolved Council sets a goal of keeping at least $20 million in fund balanceAt its reorganization meeting the Council adopted a Cash Management Plan with a Financial Management Plan (Res. 26-007, consent 9–0) saying "a Fund Balance of at least $20 million should be maintained, unless an emergency occurs." It also adopted a temporary budget and appointed tax appeal counsel and the auditor.
  4. Resolved Budget hearings: departments present requests; no public commentAt two remote hearings, March 9 and March 17, 2026, department heads presented their 2026 operating and capital requests to the Council. No member of the public spoke at either.
  5. Resolved 2026 budget introduced; hearing set for May 26The Council introduced the CY2026 budget (Res. 26-180), with total appropriations of $75,289,361.55, and introduced the cap ordinance and the 2026 bond ordinances. The meeting's minutes are not posted, so the votes are not in the record.
  6. Resolved Cap ordinance and 2026 bond ordinances adopted, 6–0The Council adopted Ord. 4502-26 (raising the appropriation cap 3.5%), Bond Ord. 4504-26 ($8,049,100 for general improvements, including $4,650,000 for roads and sidewalks), Bond Ord. 4505-26 ($4,588,000 for the water utility) and Ord. 4506-26 ($293,500 from the Open Space Trust). No member of the public spoke at the hearings.
  7. Resolved 2026 budget adopted, 9–0: municipal levy up 7.00%The Council amended and adopted the 2026 budget, 9–0 (Res. 26-222): total appropriations $75,455,645.64, with $41,722,842 raised in taxes for municipal purposes, up $2,729,532. The municipal rate went from 0.234 to 0.240; the township puts the average home's municipal tax at $1,374.10, up $74.26.
  8. Resolved Residents raise property-tax increases; Mayor says township controls 13% of the billKyle Aspen "criticized property tax increases, citing unaffordability for families," Faisal Nour "expressed concern over property tax increases," and Maureen Taylor asked about cannabis revenue to offset taxes. The Mayor said "the township controls only 13% of the total tax bill."
  9. Resolved County's 2026 Abstract of Ratables gives Franklin a 1.745 general tax rateThe Somerset County Board of Taxation's 2026 Abstract of Ratables, dated October 13, gives Franklin a general rate of 1.745 per $100 (2025: 1.678): school 1.116, county 0.276 and county open space 0.030, municipal 0.240, municipal open space 0.050 and library 0.033.
  10. In court Tax Court lists 91 open appeals involving FranklinThe state Tax Court's list of open local property cases shows 91 open dockets involving Franklin: 83 brought by businesses, 4 by individuals and 4 by the township. 40 dockets are for the 2026 assessment year.

Explainers

  • Franklin's 2026 Budget and Your Tax Bill, Explained

    Who sets each part of a Franklin tax bill; what the 2026 municipal budget raises and spends; how it passed, vote by vote; the Mayor's list of increases and cuts; surplus, audits and debt; the bond and open-space ordinances; the school budget and state aid; open tax appeals; where the records differ; and what residents can do.

Documents

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

Meetings

  • Township Council — October 27, 2026

    Minutes not yet posted. The agenda put Ord. 4522-26 on first reading: a 30-year PILOT for the final two phases of the Churchill-Millstone development on Route 27. It also listed the FMBA Local 88 contract, a final change order lowering the Cedar Brook water main contract to $941,685.91, and two police motorcycles. This page describes the agenda only; it records no votes.

  • Township Council — September 22, 2026

    With six members present, the Council adopted the $1,380,000 Catalpa Park open-space ordinance 6-0 and introduced Ord. 4520-26, a PILOT financial agreement for the CWP-ASR Somerset project at 260 Davidson Avenue, 5-0. Five residents raised leaks and water pressure after the King Road and Cedar Brook Drive water main work, and seven spoke on the Flock cameras.

  • Township Council — September 8, 2026

    The Council approved a $500,000 settlement with Transco over the federal condemnation of an access easement for Compressor Station 206, on land whose development rights the Township holds, plus $100,000 for a community benefit program, 9-0. It awarded the Catalpa Park construction contract and introduced a $1,380,000 open-space ordinance for the park. Eight of 15 speakers addressed the Flock license-plate cameras.

  • Township Council — May 26, 2026

    The Council adopted the CY2026 municipal budget as amended, 9-0, with $75,455,645.64 in appropriations and $41,722,842.00 to be raised by taxation for municipal purposes. Five residents spoke, among them one thanking the Council for limiting warehouses and banning data centers. The consent agenda carried a $325,000 guiderail repair contract and final change orders on water main and resurfacing work.

  • Township Council — May 12, 2026

    The Council introduced Ord. 4507-26, the B-I zone ordinance setting limits on warehouses, 6-0 with three members absent, after six residents spoke on warehouses and truck traffic. It adopted the 2026 general and water-utility bond ordinances, a $293,500 Open Space Trust Fund ordinance and a CAP bank ordinance, and awarded a $2,697,496 water-main replacement contract.

  • Township Council — April 28, 2026

    The agenda for the CY2026 municipal budget introduction, with a hearing set for May 26: a CAP bank ordinance (4502-26), the budget self-examination resolution and the introduction resolution, plus the 2026 general and water-utility bond ordinances and a $293,500 open-space ordinance on first reading. No minutes are posted, so no votes are reported here.

  • Township Council — April 14, 2026

    With Deputy Mayor Kharazi presiding and seven members present, the Council adopted Ord. 4501-26 vacating part of Executive Drive, which the Manager said will become a private driveway for an approved warehouse, and a temporary budget with an emergency capital appropriation, each 7-0. A resident objected to a new leaf disposal fee, and others raised traffic and crosswalk safety.

  • Township Council — March 24, 2026

    After a presentation of the 29-acre Catalpa Park plan, estimated at $9.0–$9.1 million with construction management, the Council authorized bids 8-0. Its consent agenda endorsed the Planning Board's amended Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and a $77,725 stormwater plan shared with Montgomery, and it met in closed session on the Williams Transco litigation.

  • Township Council — March 17, 2026 (Budget Hearing)

    The second remote 2026 budget hearing covered the Police Department, Public Works with the water utility and open space, and Information Technology, including their capital requests. No member of the public commented, and no votes were taken.

  • Township Council — March 10, 2026

    The Council adopted Ord. 4496-26 on affordable housing development fees and the recycling, dog-licence and wedding-fee ordinances, each 9-0. Members reported on the 2026 road paving list, a planned review of the snow-removal ordinance, and property assessment notices with a May 1 appeal deadline.

  • Township Council — March 9, 2026 (Budget Hearing)

    The first of two remote 2026 budget hearings. The Township Manager and department heads presented their 2026 budgets, from the Municipal Court and Tax Assessor to Finance and "all other budget lines". No member of the public commented, and no votes were taken.

  • Township Council — February 24, 2026

    The Council adopted Res. #26-112, barring federal civil immigration enforcement from using Township-owned property without a judicial warrant or order, as amended, 8-0. It adopted the Chapter 81 affordable housing ordinance and the Castleton Park easement, the Hamilton Street SID budget and assessment roll, and a $450,000 snow-plowing contract amendment, and met in closed session on possible open-space purchases.

  • Township Council — February 10, 2026

    The Council appointed Shubhendu Singh to the vacant Ward 1 seat, 8-0, then adopted the four inclusionary zoning ordinances for the Fourth Round housing plan and the Franklin Boulevard Redevelopment Plan amendment, each 8-0, after a property owner's lawyer asked for a delay. Ten residents spoke, most on snow and ice removal and on traffic lights.

  • Township Council — January 27, 2026

    The Council introduced the CY2026 Hamilton Street Special Improvement District budget and adopted a consent agenda that included road asset management software and the 2026 county recycling pickup agreement. Members reported on the January storm response and a proposal for all-way stop signs at Hamilton and Home Streets. No member of the public spoke.

  • Township Council — January 3, 2026 (Reorganization)

    At the 2026 reorganization, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill swore in five ward councilmembers, the Council named Alex Kharazi Deputy Mayor, and it appointed the Township Attorney, engineer, auditor and court officials 9-0. A 9-0 consent agenda adopted the 2026 temporary budget and extended the planner contract for the Fourth Round affordable housing challenges.

  • Township Council — December 9, 2025

    On a 7-0 consent agenda the Council adopted Res. #25-511 supporting the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act, asked the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority to transfer $100,000 to the Township budget, and set the 2026 budget hearings as remote meetings. A resident urged quick adoption of a new B-I zoning ordinance to limit warehouses.

  • Township Council — November 10, 2025

    With all nine members present, the Council's 9-0 consent agenda included an Axon "ALPR License and Integration" state contract of up to $37,800, the CY2024 audit and its corrective action plan, and two stormwater maintenance agreements. It introduced a Brookline Avenue parking ordinance and a pump-station easement. A resident raised the NESE project's air permit.

  • Township Council — October 28, 2025

    The Council designated 606–610 Franklin Boulevard and neighbouring lots (Block 233, Lots 1.01 and 2.01; Block 234, Lots 1, 14.01 and 16) an area in need of redevelopment with condemnation powers, 8-0 with Mr. Wright abstaining. It adopted Ord. 4483-25, which bars the routine use of fossil-fuel on-site generators, 9-0, and sent $10,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to the Franklin Food Bank ahead of an expected SNAP disruption.

Sources for this overview

  1. Franklin Township CY2026 User Friendly Budget
  2. Franklin Township CY2026 adopted budget
  3. Township Council minutes, May 26, 2026 (Res. 26-220, 26-221, 26-222)
  4. Somerset County Board of Taxation, 2026 Abstract of Ratables
  5. Franklin Township CY2025 audit
  6. Franklin Township Annual Debt Statement, December 31, 2025
  7. NJ Tax Court, open local property cases (statewide list, retrieved October 29, 2026)
  8. Franklin Township Finance Department
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