Tax Increase Proposed In Morristown 2025 Budget

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown homeowners should brace for higher property taxes in the coming year due to increased expenses, according to township officials.

The $51.7 million budget was introduced at a recent Township Council meeting, with a public hearing and final vote set for May 27.

Under the proposed budget, which includes a 1.9 percent property tax increase, the average homeowner’s tax bill will rise by $119 this year, or about $10 per month, according to Town Administrator Jillian Barrick.

During his presentation, Mayor Tim Dougherty highlighted that constraints such as ongoing inflation, rising insurance costs, a tighter state budget, and the threat of federal spending cuts have placed steady pressure on the town’s finances.

"It must be said, however, that like other municipalities in our state, we will face challenges. Economic pressure on the price of goods, the cost of healthcare and insurance and employee compensation needs, have put a strain on our finances," Dougherty said.

The mayor also noted that Morristown loses a significant amount of revenue due to its role as the county seat.

"We lose out on millions of tax dollars from the numerous nonprofits, county and state functions that we host while we support regional services with the burden that disproportionately falls on our taxpayers," Dougherty added.

Barrick also broke down the largest areas of spending from the budget, including:

• Public Works: 14.1 percent
• Public Safety: 22.7 percent
• Insurance: 21.1 percent
• Pension: 10.7 percent

The proposed 2025 capital budget allocates a total of $3.12 million for a range of improvement projects across Morristown.

According to Barrick, that includes $910,000 for roads and engineering work, $235,000 for public works vehicles, and $50,000 for fire department equipment. Parks and Recreation accounts for the largest share, with $1.52 million set aside.

Additional funding includes $60,000 for pool upgrades, $85,000 for building improvements, and $260,000 for professional services under Section 20.

The budget was unanimously introduced at the Tuesday meeting. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 27, before the Township Council adopts the 2025 budget. See the PowerPoint presentation of the budget here.