Nutley Hammers Out Its Latest Town Budget (See Tax Impact)

NUTLEY, NJ — About $141 per household. That’s the amount of the tax increase for the average Nutley homeowner under the proposed 2025 municipal budget, administrators say.

Commissioner Thomas Evans outlined Nutley’s latest spending plan during a public hearing on May 6. See his presentation here.

Evans, who serves as director of the Department of Revenue and Finance, discussed the expected tax impact to local homeowners under the plan.

A property valued at $491,000 would see a $123 bump to the municipal portion of their taxes, with an additional $18 for the library levy.

“We have always aimed for transparency in our budget,” Evans said. “This presentation clearly illustrates for our residents how their tax dollars are being allocated.”

“We are spending under four percent on debt, and administrative costs are below seven percent,” Evans added. “Contrary to some social media narratives, this budget is not out of control.”

A final vote on the budget is being delayed until June pending the resolution of state aid figures, Evans noted.

The commissioner broke down the spending plan further in his presentation:

REASON FOR TAX HIKE – According to Evans, the loss of more than half a million dollars in state aid was a major factor behind the tax increase. He continued: “The reasons for this increase stem from many factors beyond our control, such as rising insurance rates, union contracts and prior agreements … Last year, our state aid amount was $547,000, which was categorized as municipal relief aid. The introduction of this year’s state budget eliminated that category of aid. Because of that impact on our township, I have petitioned the state through the Division of Local Governmental Services as well as our legislative representatives to somehow do something to help us mitigate that loss. My goal is to – and I believe very strongly that we will – get the municipal increase under $100. These rising costs are a reality in every aspect of life. The fact that we have managed to keep the increase relatively low - though we aim to reduce it further before finalization - is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire board of commissioners.”

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PUBLIC SAFETY – “Our top priority is ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of our residents,” Evans said. “This is reflected in the fact that over 50 percent of our budget is dedicated to public safety. Many residents inquire about how their taxes are spent, and the reality is that, aside from public safety, all other budget components – road maintenance, parks, building upkeep, tree care, recreational services, utilities, legal fees, treasury functions, and garbage and recycling services – account for less than 9.2 percent [of the budget].”

NEARBY TOWNS – Evans shared a slide that compares the average taxes across other towns and cities in Essex County. “I often hear residents questioning why some municipalities have lower taxes than we do, and this chart sheds light on that,” Evans explained. “For instance, towns like Fairfield, West Caldwell, or Roseland benefit from volunteer fire departments and regional school systems, yet residents still pay a similar amount in taxes as they would in Nutley, which operates its own fire department and local school system. It’s clear that moving to these towns won’t necessarily save you money.”

Watch footage from the May 6 town commissioner meeting below (video is cued to the budget presentation).

>> See related: Plan To Hike Taxes, Make Cuts In Nutley Schools Sees Criticism

TAXES IN NUTLEY

Property taxes in New Jersey are mainly made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Here’s how that played out in Nutley for 2024, according to state data (percentages rounded up):

• School – 50.8%
• Municipal – 34.1%
• County – 15.1%

The average Nutley resident paid $12,942 in property taxes on a home valued at $491,883 last year. Read More: See Average Property Tax Bills In Nutley (2025 Update)

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