Budget Information for Residents

On April 9, 2025, the Borough Council introduced the proposed budget for the Borough of Glen Rock for 2025. The 2025 Budget is scheduled for public hearing and adoption at the Public meeting of the Borough Council at 8pm, in the Council Chambers, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. This memo provides a summary of key information for the 2025 Budget. The budget document can be viewed here.

• During the last two budget cycles, the Borough has been challenged to comply with rising costs for health benefits, pension contributions, and competitive and contractual salary obligations. While revenues for pool badge sales and building department permits continue to thrive, the balancing of rising costs have continued to be difficult, while maintaining critical services for Borough residents.
• The 2025 budget for the Borough of Glen Rock was constructed after holding seven (7) public budget meetings. During these meetings, individual departments made requests for both operating expenses and capital items. The governing body as well as the public had the opportunity to ask questions to the presenting department or to the CFO.

Critical information about the budget includes:

1. Both the GRPD and the DPW are subject to union contracts with built-in salary increases. It is a challenge to provide competitive wages among both contracts, while also addressing our non-contractual administrative department’s wage progression.
2. Health benefits have significantly increased (double-digits), due to local municipalities being removed from the State Health Benefits plan. This has impacted the Borough as well as the contributory employee component. As we research alternatives, we remain subject to the increases.
3. Pension contributions are a requirement and determined by the State, and a mandatory budget line item.
4. The Borough has a responsibility to replace aging vehicles, including high-cost vehicles such as sanitation trucks, dump trucks, and pickup trucks used for plowing and leaf collection tasks.
5. The Borough actively seeks out grants to provide funding assistance whenever possible. In 2024, in excess of $1,085,000 was acquired for roof repairs, field lighting, park enhancements, and the library elevator.
6. Each municipality must follow the statutory requirement of presenting a balanced municipal budget.

The final proposed budget is $25,832,266.68 which represents a 3.6 % increase over the 2024 final budget.

The tax levy for 2025 is $18,278,858.76, which represents a 4.2% increase over the 2024 levy.

The tax levy for the 2025 library budget is $1,145,239.24, which represents an 8.9% increase over the 2024 levy, which is required by state statute guidelines.

The impact to the average household valued at $591,156 will see an increase for municipal services of approximately $150 for the year 2025.