$76 Average Increase For Taxpayers Included In 2024 Parsippany Budget

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany officials approved a budget that they say puts the town on fiscally sound footing, after several years of tax hikes and cuts.

The $91 million spending plan passed 3-2 at last week's meeting, the same vote by which council also turned down an earlier proposal by Councilman Justin Musella to decrease the budget by $1M.

The 2024 budget includes funding to hire three more police officers and invest in recreation and public works projects, and does not include any cuts for service. It will not rely on any surplus money from the water and sewer utilities, officials said.

The budget does include a 2.86 percent increase in the municipal tax rate, which officials said is about $75.83 more annually for an average homeowner.

Council President Paul Carifi said that "$6 and change" more per month allows for the hiring of new officers, and for Parsippany to maintain some of the best services in the county, including sanitation and recycling.

"The town was broke a couple years ago," he said. "We are now fiscally sound."

Musella and Judith Hernandez, who is the only Democrat on the five-member council, were the "no" votes on the budget.

At the meeting, Musella thanked several fellow council members for being receptive to his proposal.

"It is more important than ever that we look at what we can do differently, how we can deliver services at a cheaper cost," he said.

He also implied his distaste for the mayor's recent comments about Musella's political career, in a call in to NJ101.5.

Click here to see a budget presentation from the township.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills school district's proposed $182 million spending plan includes an annual tax increase of $161.38 for the average assessed home in Parsippany ($313,513) according to board documents.