Allendale council adopts 2025 municipal budget after auditor highlights stronger reserves

Auditor Paul Lurch presented the Borough of Allendale's 2025 municipal budget at the April 24 mayor and council meeting, saying the borough finished 2024 in a solid fiscal position and that the proposed budget continues that trend. "Year-end surplus increased from the year before by $1,000,000," Lurch said, and he noted a tax-appeal reserve that rose from $400,000 to about $900,000 and a storm-recovery reserve approaching $500,000.

The auditor told the council the capital improvement fund will top $2 million once the 2025 budget is added to the existing balance, creating room for pay-as-you-go capital work rather than borrowing. He also pointed to a new revenue stream: cell-tower income, which he said helped offset a roughly $100,000 decrease in state aid.

The mayor opened the municipal-budget resolution for public comment; no members of the public objected. After presentation and brief discussion, Council moved to adopt Resolution 25-126, the 2025 local municipal budget. A roll-call vote was taken and the resolution carried as recorded on the meeting record.

CFO Allison Altano summarized operational details for residents, saying the amount to be raised by taxation increased about 1% (roughly $41,000 on an $11 million levy) and that the borough has worked to keep the average homeowner's tax burden effectively flat through rolling assessments. "The borough is in a great financial position," Altano said, thanking the finance team and departments for preparing a newsletter and materials to help residents understand the budget.

The council also approved the consent agenda, which included escrow releases, authorizations related to lake salaries and the concession-stand solicitation, and several appointments. The record shows at least one abstention on the consent vote that was noted during the roll call.

Next steps: the ordinance tied to the cap bank (Ordinance 25-05) and other code changes advanced as part of the council's regular legislative process; the budget resolution will be published as required and the council will continue implementing capital and reserve plans described during the presentation.