Morristown mayor proposes $49 million budget; municipal rate up 1.7¢, average homeowner to pay $189 more

Mayor Timothy P. Daugherty presented the town of Morristown’s proposed $49,000,000 annual operating budget at the council meeting on May 14, saying the plan includes an effective municipal tax-rate increase of 1.7¢ that, combined with school and county levies, will raise the average homeowner’s bill by about $189 this year.

The mayor framed the budget as a response to post‑COVID economic trends and a townwide revaluation. “This proposed budget includes an effective increase of 1.7¢ in the municipal tax rate,” he said, and added that a revaluation of all property — the first since 2004 — raised assessed values by about 107%, shifting tax burdens among property classes.

The budget summary released at the meeting breaks the $49,000,000 total into a municipal budget (a little over $45,000,000), a library aid of $1,200,000, and increased grant funding (about $2,400,000). The mayor and finance staff told council the sewer utility fund totals $7,400,000, with $750,000 set for capital improvements charged on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis.

Officials identified public safety as the largest departmental appropriation (more than 22% of the budget). Other priorities include multi‑mile paving and drainage projects, park bathroom renovations and accessibility work, and investments in digital permitting and council‑chamber audiovisual upgrades. The mayor pointed to permit and development fees as growing revenue sources; municipal hotel and motel tax and state aid increases were also cited as contributors.

Council members and staff discussed cost pressures that drove the levy increase, including wage adjustments tied to union contracts, higher insurance and health‑care costs (each cited as increasing by roughly $400,000), and the statutory formula for reserve and pension costs. The administration said the town remains under the 2% property‑tax levy cap and that a tax‑calculator will be posted on the town website to help residents estimate their individual bills.

Next steps: the budget was introduced and will proceed through the town’s normal review and public‑hearing schedule. Council asked for additional work sessions to review budget details with staff.

Sources: presentation and figures provided by Mayor Timothy P. Daugherty and town finance staff during the May 14 council meeting.