Senior Club Cuts Draw Pushback, Hillsborough Delays 2026 Budget Vote

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Seniors pushed back against Township officials after learning funding for two senior citizen chapters would be cut in the upcoming budget.

Gene Reinhardt, who has been 12 years in Chapter A Senior Citizens, said at the Tuesday Committee meeting that his chapter was "surprised and almost shocked" to see that the budget was changed to allocate $31,000 total to the two groups to $0 for 2026.

"We recognize these are tough times, and you're working on it, and we appreciate that you recognize that the seriousness of that impacts our organizations. So we only hope that there's some light at the end of the tunnel at some future time that this could be reconsidered and we can enjoy some funding again and provide services ourselves to our senior citizen group," said Reinhardt.

Previously, the Township has allocated $15,500 each to Senior Club Chapter A and Chapter B or $31,000 total.

In the 2026 Municipal Budget, that appropriation was changed to zero.

"So, the bad news is you'll never see that money from the Township again. The worst news is it was actually against state law that we were giving to you in the first place," said Mayor Catherine Payne at the meeting.

Payne pointed to a state law that stated that "no donation of land or appropriation of money shall be made by the state or any county or municipal corporation to or for the use of any society, association, or corporation."

Senior citizens who spoke at the May 26 meeting said the proposed elimination would affect lunches, trips, and other activities.

"Thank you for your bad news in the first place. It's all you ever give us, but more importantly, we're old. We're all old. I'm 82. When are you going to get this matter straightened out, so that I get a benefit of living?" questioned Richard Gillio, with Chapter B. "Here I came because I thought senior citizens, this was a great place to live. It's not. I'm paying for it. I don't understand what the hell is going on."

Township officials said the legal question involved direct appropriations to outside groups, not senior programming itself.

During the meeting, officials said they would work through the social services department to explore grants, donated food for luncheons and other ways to support the clubs.

Township Administrator Anthony Ferrera told Patch in a statement that the $31,000 reduction applies specifically and exclusively to the Senior Club Chapter A and Chapter B groups.

"All other senior services and programs remain fully intact. The Hillsborough Township Social Services department continues to provide more than 50 partnership-sponsored programs, including wellness classes, financial education, and transportation, currently serving over 2,000 residents at no cost to participants. The Township remains committed to supporting our senior community through these ongoing services," said Ferrera.

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lipani described the budget as difficult and said rising healthcare, pension and utility costs were major pressures.

"It actually, to be quite frank, it does not provide additional services for the community. It actually removes services to our community," said Lipani.

Christiaan Bushell, the township’s CFO and director of finance, noted the difficulties of the budget, including cutting operations expenses in all departments by three percent, reducing part-time staff hours, and laying off three staff members.

"These weren't easy decisions that any of us had to make to get here, so I appreciate your concern about the $31,000. I do. It wasn't an easy choice when I looked at the numbers that I mentioned earlier. We had to come and actually arrive at a decision," said Bushell.

"A voluntary contribution to a group was far outweighed by keeping employees in the building. I'm sorry if that's not what you guys want to hear. I really am sorry if that's not what you hear, but we literally are having trouble here. We are going to be back in the same position next year," continued Bushell.

The final vote was pushed from Tuesday night after the Township received state review comments and because Committeewoman Jill Gomez, a finance liaison on the budget, was absent.

Payne said the township had received notice from the state over the weekend that a slight budget change might be needed, so the governing body would hold off on voting.

Lipani said the township submitted the budget on April 3 but did not get a state reviewer assigned until Friday, with comments arriving Sunday and Monday.

A public hearing on the proposed 2026 municipal budget will continue at the June 6 Township Committee meeting.

• Previous Reporting: Hillsborough's $43M Budget Proposes Tax Increase For Residents For 2026

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