Glen Ridge Council Adopts 2025 Budget with 3.1% Tax Hike, Approves Water Meter Fines
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Glen Ridge's Mayor and Council adopted the borough's 2025 municipal budget at the May 12 meeting, setting spending at $18.5 million, up from $18.0 million last year. The average household will see its municipal tax bill rise by about $156, or 3.1%, a jump officials attributed largely to a 43% increase in state health insurance costs since 2022 and 3% raises for the borough's 184 unionized employees.
The council also adopted an ordinance amending the water service system rules to require residents to replace their water meters or face fines: $100 for non-compliance after September 20th, plus $25 for each additional day the meter isn't replaced. Relatedly, the borough administrator said crews for both the water meter replacement program (about 350 homes still need visits) and the town-wide property revaluation are going door-to-door with photo identification, and residents who want to confirm a worker's legitimacy can call the police.
In other business, the council approved a contract with Spatial Data Logic to maintain specialized mapping software used by the building department and utilities crew without seeking competitive bids; no dollar figure was given. Officials also warned that NJ Transit may go on strike starting at midnight next Friday, and encouraged residents to work from home if possible, while the borough looks into using its Jitney shuttle to ferry riders to the Staples park-and-ride and highlighted local bus and private carrier alternatives. An ordinance setting 2025 maximum salaries and job titles for non-union borough employees passed its first reading and now heads to the clerk for publication ahead of a future adoption vote. The public safety committee spent most of its session interviewing a candidate for the borough's new police captain position, though no hiring decision was made.
Elsewhere, the water and sewer utility and the swimming pool utility were both reported to be in healthy financial shape, with the pool setting aside $65,000 for capital needs. The council unanimously approved a tax overpayment refund for a resident, authorized estimated property tax billing for the third quarter of 2025 while the state finalizes its own budget figures, and voted to let the borough locally certify its own budget examination rather than have the state review it, citing sound finances. Council members also unanimously granted a 50/50 raffle license to the high school's Home and School Association for an event on June 3rd, welcomed new Glen Ridge Congregational Church pastor John Samson on his first day in the role and asked him to share his contact information with the police chief, and announced that the upcoming Saturday Arts and Eco Fair will close streets from Bloomfield to Lincoln Street for most of the day. Officials also flagged that fewer than 10% of residents reportedly know about the June 10th primary election and said they plan to send reminder emails, noting vote-by-mail ballots have already gone out and the borough's dropbox stays open until 8pm on election day.
What to watch
- Future council vote on final adoption of the non-union employee salary ordinance
- Further borough communication on NJ Transit strike contingency plans ahead of the possible walkout
- Outreach efforts to boost awareness of the June 10th primary election