0 Percent Tax Increase Proposed For 2nd Year In Row In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — Good news once again for Westfield homeowners as the Council unanimously introduced the 2025 municipal budget with a 0 percent municipal tax increase on Tuesday night.

This is the second year in a row the Council was able to deliver a 0 percent municipal tax increase.

"It's only fitting that we are introducing our final budget with a 0 percent municipal tax increase for the third time in our 8-year tenure," said Mayor Shelley Brindle, who along with Councilmembers Linda Habgood, Mike Dardia, and David Contract are not seeking re-election in 2025.

Brindle said they were able to deliver a 0 percent tax increase in 2019, 2024, and now again in 2025.

The 53.4 million budget was introduced and presented to the public at the March 25 Council meeting. The budget takes into account the average assessed home in Westfield for 2024 at $826,700 in 2025, which is up from $826,700 in 2024.

"This effort to keep your municipal taxes as low as possible results partly from a consistently balanced approach to our surplus," said Councilwoman and Finance Chair Linda Habgood. "Keep what you need for a rainy day and reinvest the remaining amounts to accomplish our budget goals, including enabling the execution of capital investments in safety, public engagement, and our residents' quality of life."

The flat tax rate was due in part to the "Town diversifying the municipality's revenue streams and thus enabling the town Westfield to be less reliant on property tax revenue," said Habgood.

New revenue streams included: the first PILOT payments from the Westfield Crossing project and rents from Maize.

Business Administrator Jim Gildea highlighted projects to be included in the proposed budget including:

Public Safety

• Replacement SCBAs(self-contained breathing apparatus) for the entire fire department
• Additional traffic safety equipment and police technology
• First EV police car and charged paid for by the NJ BPU Clean Energy Program

Parks & Recreation

• Enhancing maintenance and beautification upgrades of all parks & public spaces
• Conceptual design plan for a phased improvement plan for Tamaques Park once survey/stakeholder/public meetings are complete
• Expanding Houlihan/Sid Fay field parking lot with new restrooms & multi-use facility
• Continuous Memorial Playground Improvements
• DPW restructuring allows for additional personnel for BOE fields pending a shared service agreement
• Continue planting hundreds of trees throughout the Town

Paving & Drainage

• Paving 11 miles of road - 7.9 miles by the Town and 3.1 anticipated by utilities
• Paving program includes ADA curb ramp additions/replacements,a nd stormwater resilience projects such as new storm inlets and underground pipe repairs in known problem areas
• Finalizing upgrade of sanitary sewer pumping stations
• Initiated stormwater catch basin crew for systematic maintenance of sewer system

Personnel & Services

• Investing in personnel, automation, and equipment to enhance resident services while improving efficiency and managing costs
• Increase in salary/wages is 2.6 percent in 2025 vs. 6.3 percent in 2024
• Included in 2025: two additional DPW laborers, replacement hires in police and fire departments due to retirement
• Continued restructuring, promotions, and adjustments in various departments
• All current collective bargaining agreements have been settled and preparing to work cooperatively with unions on expiring contracts

Public Services

• Westfield Memorial Library is continuing to do interior renovations, including new Maker Space
• Parking system upgrades, including online permitting and waitlist management
• Tax collectors office: new automatic payment for quarterly taxes and a credit card processor in the office

Capitol Improvements

• Professional consultants to begin work on Quimby street design plan, stormwater system condition assessment
• Funding for demolition of house next to firehouse 2 to begin progress of new fire headquarters
• Funding the demolition of the newly acquired 200 South Ave. building(Mr. Good Lube)
• Various improvements to public facilities
• Down payment deposit for future capital projects
• Houlihan/Sid Fay Fields: parking lot expansion and multi-use facility
• Department of Public Works Fuel System replacement

"Putting a budget together is a lot more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. In fact, that’s kind of like the back part of what is going on," said Councilman David Kiefer. "We do really care about the Town and we really do try to strike the balance between investing for the future and being frugal with everyone’s money. I think we hit that. I am very proud of the budget."

Councilman David Contract echoed Kiefer's sentiments adding, "It's not easy to hold the line on tax increases, maintain surplus, and provide services. I do think we collectively... Have done a good job doing that."

A public hearing and adoption of the budget will be held at the April 22 Council meeting.

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