No County Tax Hike For Middlesex Residents In 2026. Here's Where The $90M Budget Is Going.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — Middlesex County residents will not see a county-level property tax increase in 2026, as county officials unveiled a budget that holds the line on taxes while directing $90 million toward roads, schools, transit, and public health.

County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios delivered the annual State of the County address Tuesday, outlining the spending plan and a series of capital projects set to move forward this year.

The county has maintained a AAA bond rating — the highest possible — from both S&P and Moody's for 25 consecutive years, a designation that allows it to borrow money at lower interest rates and keep debt costs from being passed on to taxpayers.

Among the projects residents will see this year: three facilities on the Middlesex College campus are expected to open, including a new public high school — the Middlesex County Innovation Magnet School — as well as a multipurpose community venue and a student center. Construction on the H1 building at the HELIX NJ life sciences complex in New Brunswick is in its final stages, with an opening expected this summer.

For commuters, upgrades to the New Brunswick Train Station are ongoing, and design work on a new North Brunswick Train Station is nearly 90 percent complete.

On public health, the county has expanded distribution of NARCAN — a drug that reverses opioid overdoses — to schools, rehab centers, faith-based groups, and community centers. Mental health services continue through the Otlowski Center for Mental Health Care in Perth Amboy. Public healthcare kiosks remain available around the clock.

In education, the county is launching an accelerated program at Middlesex College this year that allows licensed practical nurses to earn a registered nurse degree in one year. A new $375,000 grant will also fund an artificial intelligence curriculum at Middlesex County East Brunswick Magnet School, with the first student cohort already enrolled.

A technology incubator is planned at the HELIX NJ complex to offer free or subsidized space and support services to startups and small businesses.

"With our 2026 budget finalized, not only can we provide stability — we are continuing to invest in our community," Rios said.

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