The 2026 budget and property taxes

The Township Committee adopted the 2026 municipal budget on May 14, 2026, after a public hearing, by Resolutions 2026-130, 2026-131 and 2026-132, each on a 5–0 roll call: McCarey, Blick, Croson, Kian and Fine voted yes. The Committee had introduced it on April 16, 2026 by Resolution 2026-108, also on a 5–0 roll call: McCarey, Blick, Croson, Kian and Fine voted yes.

Total general appropriations are $27,058,362.93. This is higher than the $25,605,250.05 final amount for 2025. The amount to be raised by taxes for municipal purposes is $16,545,270.77. This includes the reserve for uncollected taxes. This is an increase of $732,737.69 (OCR) or 4.63% from the $15,812,533.08 amount in 2025.

The tax rate for municipal purposes is $0.252 per $100 of assessed value. This is a decrease of 2.70% from $0.259. The public hearing packet estimates municipal taxes of $2,575 on an average home valued at $1,021,852. This is $64, or 2.5%, more than $2,511. The User Friendly Budget shows $2,573.02 for that home (OCR), which is $61.58, or 2.45%, more than $2,511.44. The two Township documents provide different estimates.

The adopted budget and public hearing packet show a $0.252 tax rate. The User Friendly Budget gives a calculated rate of $0.2518 and states a 2.78% decrease (OCR). The documents slightly differ in the stated rate.

Total ratables increased by 7.58%. They rose from $6,107,636,600 to $6,570,827,800.

Spending includes $6,565,898.92 for police, $5,421,240 for employee benefits, $2,793,100 for streets, $2,549,500 for administration, $1,675,017.70 for debt service (OCR), $1,123,580 for planning and construction, $1,122,270 for fire, and $909,000 for capital improvements. The budget anticipates $2,600,000 of surplus as revenue and $1,910,000 in payments in lieu of taxes. The sewer utility budget is $5,450,537.

Health insurance changed. On April 16 the Committee adopted Resolution 2026-111 terminating all Township participation in the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program, listing 68 employees (OCR), and Resolution 2026-115 authorizing membership in the NJ Solutions Joint Health Insurance Fund. Both passed 5–0, with McCarey, Blick, Croson, Kian and Fine voting yes on each. The User Friendly Budget lists a “State Health Benefit Plan Increases — increase of 38%” line as a structural risk.

When the budget was introduced, Administrator Mark Krane told the Committee that it was 6.14% over the 2025 budget. He stated that 85% of this increase came from health insurance, the police department budget, and property and casualty insurance. Committeeman Daniel Croson said that historically, only 16% of a Warren tax bill is for municipal taxes.

The public hearing had one speaker, Rick dePinho of Wilshire Road. He spoke about the Hofheimer House referendum and the cost of maintaining that building. The full 2026 tax rate combines the municipal rate with other rates: $0.347 for regional high school, $0.778 for local school, $0.268 estimated for county, $0.034 for county library, $0.030 for county open space, and $0.020 for municipal open space.