SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - South Brunswick Council introduced an $82.97 million municipal budget for 2026 on April 15, a roughly $1.27 million increase over the prior year's adopted budget of $81.7 million.
The spending plan calls for $52.15 million to be raised through local taxes for municipal purposes — up from $49.2 million in 2025, an increase of approximately $2.95 million. The minimum library tax would also rise, from about $4.05 million to $4.81 million.
Combined, the total amount to be raised by taxes for support of the municipal budget would be $56.96 million, compared to $53.25 million in 2025.
The budget documents, available on the township website, do not specify a 2026 municipal tax rate. The prior year's local purpose tax rate was listed at $1.151 per $100 of assessed value.
The township enters 2026 on a stronger fiscal footing than a year ago. The current fund surplus stood at $7.27 million as of Dec. 31, 2025 — up from $3.42 million at the close of 2024.
The 2026 budget anticipates drawing $4.52 million from that surplus to offset costs, compared to $1.43 million applied in the 2025 budget.
State transitional aid is projected to decline. The township budgeted $5.52 million in transitional aid for 2026, down from the $6.5 million received in 2025.
Among the budget's largest appropriations are $14.7 million for police salaries, $13.27 million for employee group health insurance, and $4.53 million for solid waste collection. Pension obligations include $4.83 million for the Police and Firemen's Retirement System and $2.55 million for the Public Employees' Retirement System.
The township's dedicated water and sewer utility carries a separate budget of $35.05 million for 2026.
New construction added approximately $463,434 in additional allowable levy under the state's cap calculation, and the township applied $12,579 in available levy cap bank funds. The budget came in $31,634 under the maximum allowable amount to be raised by taxation.
The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 20 at 6 p.m. at the Township Municipal Building, 540 Ridge Road.
To view the proposed budget, click here.
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