Tax Increase Proposed In Bridgewater Township 2025 Budget

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Township introduced its $50.4 million municipal budget for 2025 at a special Tuesday night meeting, including a 2.48 percent increase on the tax levy and .82 percent in overall spending, according to Mayor Matthew Moench.

An average home in Bridgewater will pay an increase of $34 per year for the municipal services portion of the tax bill. The township did not immediately respond to Patch's request for the value of the average assessed home in 2024.

"We spent a lot of time over the past few months looking at the budget… to identify a variety of both cuts and different sources of revenue," said Moench at the meeting.

Moench noted that the Township lost $1.9 million of revenue that was not recurring from last year, prompting them to look at other sources of revenue as well as areas where they could cut without cutting services.

"We were pleased we were able to do that. No services have been cut. We are increasing our park maintenance. We are continuing to provide all the services for our police officers and public safety," said Moench. "We are proud of this budget."

Included in the budget is funding for:

• The continued renewal of the Township's aging Public Works fleet
• Supporting the Road Improvement Program
• Capital projects such as the renovation of the Prince Rodgers ballfield lighting system
• Vital stormwater management projects

The budget was late to be introduced in Bridgewater as the deadline in New Jersey for introducing municipal budgets is generally in March.

A presentation breaking down the budget to the public or the full budget documentation was also not attached to the agenda or available at the Tuesday night meeting. Officials said the budget would be shared on the Township's website on Wednesday morning. As of 4:55 p.m. the budget is not on the website.

"This year's deadline was March 31. Although this year's budget is only a third of the school districts, it is difficult to understand why this is such a challenging endeavour to complete in a timely manner each year," said resident Anda Cytroen. "Instead, the administration stalled and the council routinely rubberstamped each spending request made so that the administration could delay this presentation and still pay its bills. Basically, you present the budget to us, already half spent."

Resident Cathy Franco also shared that she had mixed emotions on the budget finally being introduced, saying she was "both disappointed and happy."

Councilman Filipe Pedroso noted that he didn't "rubberstamp anything" and voted no several times and against ordinances allowing the council to exceed its budget appropriations.

Pedroso was the only councilmember to vote no to establishing a cap bank and the introduction of the budget.

Moench criticized Pedroso for not participating in the budget process.

"All the emails I have received not a single one has come from you on a suggestion on a budget, a proposed cut on a budget other than allowing your colleagues to hold your water while you try to preserve some makeshift record that basically means you can skirt any responsibility for any decision making of this governing body and instead you need to vote no to avoid reading or making decisions on a substantive matter," said Moench.

"It is my opinion that tweaks and adjustments are highly needed in this budget. The amount to be raised by taxation is quite excessive versus last year," said Pedroso. "I don’t think the budget is ready for introduction. I think the administration has a lot more work to do."

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, June 26, before the Township Council adopts the 2025 budget.

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