Focus On Public Safety: Tax Increase Proposed In Bernards Twp. 2024 Budget

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — With a focus on public safety, Basking Ridge residents may see an increase in taxes as revealed in the proposed 2024 budget.

Bernards Township Chief Financial Officer Sean McCarthy introduced this year's $46.2 million municipal budget at the March 26 Township Committee meeting, which includes a .269 percent municipal services tax levy increase.

While the levy increased, this year's municipal tax rate went down 1.84 percent from last year due to the increase in the overall assessed value.

A home assessed in 2024 at $785,305 will pay $154 more per year or $2,114 for the municipal services portion of the tax bill.

"The budget focus is Public Safety with roughly $625,000 in new funding for our police department," said McCarthy.

The new funding includes:

• 2 additional full-time police officers - $215,000
• Police Department salary and wage increase - $205,000
• Accelerated patrol car fleet replacement(adding 3 patrol cars) - $150,000
• Capitol funding for 11 license plate reader cameras and the associated software - $40,000
• Continued funding for body-worn camera program - $15,000

McCarthy said the increase in salary and wage is part of year one of the "recently settled PBA contract with the focus there to attract and retain our talented police force."

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 23 before the township committee adopts the 2024 budget. Click here to view the budget presentation or see the video below (it begins around 1:38:00):

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