Morristown OK's $60M Budget: See Tax Hikes

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown officials have officially adopted the 2026-27 municipal budget, and residents can expect a higher tax bill as a result.

The $60.6 million budget, which is around $1.2 million higher than last year’s, reflects a 3.25 percent tax levy. Officials said the levy is necessary to maintain current services and avoid deeper cuts to staffing, capital projects, and day-to-day operations.

The tax levy increase will have the average Morristown resident paying an additional $207 a year in their tax bill, or just over an additional $17 per month. The average residential assessment for 2026 is $635,841.

The town's operating budget grew from $48.7 million in 2025 to nearly $51 million in 2026. Officials cited rising personnel costs, pension obligations, utilities, and other operating expenses as major drivers.

Departmental operations increased by about $1.23 million, with salary and wage costs rising nearly $775,000 and other expenses increasing roughly $453,000. Despite those increases, the town budgeted for 191 full-time employees, down from 195 the previous year.

Among the largest increases:

• Police salaries and wages: +$514,745
• DPW utilities and salt expenses: +$263,914
• Fire salaries and wages: +$215,301
• Bond anticipation note principal payments: +$190,000
• Police and fire pension costs: +$158,205

More than 56 percent of the town’s $60.6 million budget comes from residents’ taxes. See a breakdown below:

The additional funds from the tax levy will help the town afford the $3.65 million price tag on several capital projects, led by road and engineering work.

Major allocations include:

• $1.89 million for roads and engineering
• $430,000 for public works vehicles
• $492,000 for parks and recreation projects
• $360,000 for pool improvements
• $221,000 for building improvements

The municipal budget adoption comes as the Morris School District greenlights a $155 million budget, further hiking up taxes for Morristown residents. Morristown residents will see an average increase of more than $300 in their school taxes, plus the $207 from municipal taxes.