Third Time’s a Charm? Berkeley Heights Council Set to Adopt Amended Budget Without Public Line-by-Line

If you’ve been keeping up you probably know Berkeley Heights’ budget was kicked back and an amended budget was introduced last meeting.  It’s up for adoption on the 19th however, the amended budget is still not part of the packet which is very odd given that the Township was front and center with its initial draft early on.  I emailed the town on Friday afternoon asking for it and once I get it, we’ll do another drill down.

There is some information about the budget on the agenda – it totals ~$34.8M which is about 230K less than the 04/07 budget with the tax levy holding steady at ~15.8M from the 04/2026 budget and because the budget is not included in the packet the public is unable to apply a line by line comparison.  This is the third version of the budget thus far.

Related to the budget is Resolution 2026-182 which amends the adopted budget to include the $250k we discussed last meeting from Connell as additional revenue, with an equal $250k offsetting appropriation for the Lower Columbia Project – Connell. In other words, money in from Connell money out to Lower Columbia.

The next big item is Ordinance 2026-11 (Introduction) which would add or revise fire-prevention provisions involving non-life-hazard-use registration fees, residential change-of-ownership and change-of-tenancy inspections, rapid-access key boxes, firewatch standby fees, false-alarm penalties, fire department connections, door labeling, and fire lanes.

For residents, one of the most important items in this ordinance connects to the resale and rental inspection process which would require certificates before the sale, rental or lease of a unit.

That checklist includes:
–Smoke alarms
-Carbon monoxide detectors
-House numbers
-Sump pump and gutter discharge
-Open building permits
-Zoning permits
-Compliance with lead laws for some pre-1978 rental units.

Fees range start at $100 and can go up to $200 depending on how close to closing or change of tenancy the application is filed, with additional reinspections costing $75.

The fire-fee ordinance also requires rapid-access key boxes excluding owner-occupied buildings used only for dwelling purposes with fewer than three dwelling units.

Existing occupied buildings would have 18 months to comply.

The ordinance also creates fire-watch standby fees and false-alarm penalties – including a min. $100 penalty per occurrence after more than three false fire alarms in a calendar year.

The final vote on this one will be 06/09/2026.

The agenda amends the Town’s contract (again) with Sovereign Consulting for Micro C and Magnesium Hydroxide Chemical Feed Systems at the Sewage plant. The original contract was awarded in 2024 for $986,500 then reduced to $979,500, and now with this new resolution goes up by $4,279.66 to an NTE of $983,779.66.

Another resolution involves awarding Pumping Services, Inc. a contract (NTE of ~$42K) for the Hampton Drive Pump Station grinder (replacement) through the North Jersey Wastewater Cooperative Pricing System.

Reso. 2026-180 amends the H.J. Cannon Group contract for licensed design professional services (for the Municipal Complex project) bringing the total down from $30K to ~$12K

The Council includes the three ordinances that were introduced last meeting..

Ordinance 2026-08 – Ebikes and scooters

Ordinance 2026-09 Filming ordinance

Ordinance 2026-10 -Yard Waste and Waterways

Other consent-agenda items include

-$1,376,926.76 bill list

-2025 LOSAP benefits for eligible Volunteer Rescue Squad member

-Amendment to the Township’s shared-service agreement with Union County for public health services

-Amendment to the Township’s deferred-compensation service agreement with Empower Retirement.

The Union County public health shared-service amendment is looking to set the town’s public health services cost at $77,569 for 2026 and $110,000 for 2027, followed by a 3% annual increase, with the County also reserving the ability, with notice, to increase the annual adjustment to 5%. The amendment also adds environmental services related to lead-poisoning inspections in homes of children with elevated blood lead levels.

Source

Update @ 05/18/2026 @09:18am: The Township got back to us with a copy of the budget. See it here

Update @05/18/2026 @ 10:23am:

We received the budget on the agenda for adoption on tomorrow’s meeting and as we’ve reported, it’s about $233K lower than the earlier version.And as we’ve reported, despite this, the tax levy didn’t go down.

The changes are primarily accounting- grant-related spending and matching revenue went down or taken out altogether while ~200K was pulled from surplus to balance the budget.

So…

The total went down

The municipal tax levy didn’t change.

The balance came from changing grant line and using more surplus.