The council’s budget presentation put a spotlight on a substantial rise in insurance costs, with a 14% increase primarily due to the marketplace, cybersecurity, and workers’ compensation. The municipality is grappling with the impact of New Jersey’s regulatory environment on insurance premiums, anticipating potential future hikes. Cybersecurity was a recurring theme, as the council plans to roll out monthly training programs for municipal employees to address the rising threat landscape.

Significant budget amendments for various departments were discussed, including a 133% increase in the police OE budget, a 99.9% increase in Public Works primarily for a Redevelopment study, and a 16% rise in Information Technology for cybersecurity measures. These increases reflect the council’s focus on updating and protecting the municipality’s infrastructure and services.

Another financial discussion centered on the 2024 Capital Plan, amounting to $2.7 million, aimed at funding road programs and exploring potential grant revenue. The plan is part of an overarching financial strategy that includes controlling health insurance costs, which saw a mere 2.6% increase due to a younger workforce and cost-cutting measures, and managing utility expenses, which experienced only a 1% overall increase despite previous rate hikes. The council emphasized the importance of staying within the 15-20% surplus policy for prudent fiscal planning.

The budget talks also extended to water and sewer utility budgets. The water utility budget is projected to increase by 3.8%, driven by costs associated with installing past treatment units and upcoming principal payments for long-term financing. Conversely, the sewer budget remains flat, with no rate increases, highlighting the council’s efforts to minimize costs for the decommissioning of the sewage treatment plant and addressing groundwater infiltration issues.

Addressing the community’s cultural and recreational needs, the council delved into the library’s budget and services. The library director outlined the broad range of offerings, including digital subscriptions, educational programs, and a maker space, despite the challenges of maintaining an aging building and infrastructure. Plans to secure grants for a mobile computer lab were challenged by these structural issues.

Plans for capital projects like a new playground, refurbishing several sports facilities, and the potential for an after-summer camp program were discussed, emphasizing the use of grants, fundraising, and trust money, thereby avoiding taxpayer dollars for these enhancements.

The council’s discussions on the library’s association with the Buckles library system reaffirmed the stability and benefit of the organization to the community. The Recreation committee’s report highlighted the dedication of new commissioners, who are contributing their skills in budgeting and fundraising to support the town’s recreational activities and tournaments.

In preparation for future growth and budget planning, the council discussed increasing fees for the summer camp program to cover higher wages and administrative expenses. The budget increase for the Recreation program is partly due to a higher number of registrations, requiring more uniforms and equipment, as well as the need to maintain fields and cover insurance costs.

The meeting concluded with plans for future discussions involving the Department of Public Works, police, and fire departments. Council members were invited to reach out with any questions before the upcoming budget introduction and public hearing.