GARWOOD – The Garwood Borough Council introduced an operating budget of $12,107,952.36 during a regular public meeting of the governing body last week.

The Borough will need to raise approximately $7,984,710.25 (up from $7,806,845.96 last year) in taxes in 2026 in order to balance out anticipated expenditures.

The Council also voted last Thursday to introduce a cap bank ordinance that will allow them to increase future spending beyond the State’s mandated limits.

“The cap bank is a budgeting tool for planning purposes only and does not authorize any spending,” said Borough Administrator John Arthur, “Just because the cap bank allows for a potential increase over the limit, it does not mean that the increase will be used, but it is beneficial to have it available just in case it is needed.”

He also stressed that municipalities are still constrained by the State’s mandated 2 percent tax levy cap, which is more restrictive than the appropriations cap.

Both the budget and the cap bank ordinances were introduced with the Council’s unanimous consent.

Resident Bruce Patterson addressed the Council with some concerns regarding the budget, claiming concerns about a Capital Surplus

“It sounds like we really aren’t spending what we are budgeting- if anything, we should be addressing the expenditures or the appropriations a little better in hopes of decreasing our property taxes, which seem to go up every year,” he said.

Mayor Jen Blumenstock responded to Mr. Patterson’s statement by saying that she was
unsure of some of the statements that he made and suggested his questions be sent to Chief Financial Officer Sandy Bruns for a more accurate response.

“I don’t want to give any misinformation,” she said.

Mr. Arthur also stated that additional budget documents will be provided to the public in the near future, which may also clarify some of Mr. Patterson’s concerns.