West Orange Town Budget Is Still A Work In Progress: See Latest Updates

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Town Council continues to hammer out the latest municipal budget, which will likely include a tax hike for local homeowners.

The council held the latest in a series of public budget meetings on July 21. Watch footage here, or view the video below.

Another budget meeting is planned for Monday, July 27. It will take place at 5 p.m. at the council chambers at Town Hall, 66 Main Street. See virtual login details here, and view the meeting agenda here.

Township officials previously reported that the current proposal would raise the municipal operating budget by $4.15 million, or 6.25 percent. It would mean a $312 increase for an average home with an assessed value of $615,472.

• Related: West Orange Town Council Wrestles With Budget, Potential Tax Hike

The amount of the potential increase isn't necessarily set in stone. Last year, the town council was presented with a proposed 6.2 percent tax hike, which would have meant a $243 increase for the average homeowner. Eventually, the council whittled that amount down to a $49 average increase.

A public hearing and final vote will have to happen before the 2026 spending plan crosses the finish line. View the draft budget (as of April 20) here.

The West Orange Town Council has held other recent budget workshops with department heads as they work towards a final version. Watch the April 27 workshop here, and the May 5 workshop here.

Property taxes in New Jersey are mainly made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Last year, the average West Orange resident paid $16,162 in property taxes on a home assessed at $615,472, not including credits and deductions. That broke down by school (62%), municipal (26.6%) and county (11.4%).

• Related: Average West Orange Property Tax Tops $16K: See Latest 5-Year Breakdown

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