Redbank council adopts $31.46 million 2026 budget; approves redevelopment, police and salary ordinances
May 15, 2026 | Red Bank, Monmouth County, New Jersey
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The Borough of Redbank council voted unanimously to adopt the 2026 municipal operating budget on May 14, approving Resolution 26-96 after a public hearing. CFO Thomas Seaman summarized the adopted plan as totaling $31,458,556.85, with $16,463,373.62 to be raised by property taxes; the budget includes an additional $200,000 drawn from surplus to temper the tax increase.
Seaman told the council that salaries account for approximately one-third of the municipal budget, health insurance costs rose by more than 25% year over year, pension obligations exceed $2 million and debt service is above $3 million. “The budget is for 31,458,556.85,” Seaman said while reviewing the figures during the public hearing.
On the consent and ordinance calendar the council also approved three ordinances on final reading by unanimous roll-call votes:
- Ordinance 2026-10: adopting a redevelopment rehabilitation plan for borough tax map block 39, lots 30 and 31 (final reading and adoption).
- Ordinance 2026-11: amending the borough code to increase the authorized number of class one special law enforcement officers (final reading and adoption).
- Ordinance 2026-12: an amendment to the borough salary ordinance (final reading and adoption).
Council introduced a set of bond ordinances and other measures for first reading and set public hearings for May 28, including roadway improvements (Ordinance 2026-13), municipal parks improvements (Ordinance 2026-14), a $2.4 million lead service line replacement bond ordinance including a $1 million HUD grant (Ordinance 2026-15), water and sewer utility improvements (Ordinance 2026-16), and amendments to historic-district procedures (Ordinance 2026-17). The council noted a typographical correction to be made in the historic-district ordinance.
The council also approved resolutions 26-97 through 26-105 on the consent agenda and authorized administrative appointments including Susan Divine (Green Team) and reappointments to the rent-leveling and Shade Tree boards. All formal roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript were unanimous 'yes' by the members present.
Next steps: the borough will hold the scheduled public hearings on the introduced bond ordinances on May 28, and staff said they will proceed with required grant and debt ordinances where funding is available.
Seaman told the council that salaries account for approximately one-third of the municipal budget, health insurance costs rose by more than 25% year over year, pension obligations exceed $2 million and debt service is above $3 million. “The budget is for 31,458,556.85,” Seaman said while reviewing the figures during the public hearing.
On the consent and ordinance calendar the council also approved three ordinances on final reading by unanimous roll-call votes:
- Ordinance 2026-10: adopting a redevelopment rehabilitation plan for borough tax map block 39, lots 30 and 31 (final reading and adoption).
- Ordinance 2026-11: amending the borough code to increase the authorized number of class one special law enforcement officers (final reading and adoption).
- Ordinance 2026-12: an amendment to the borough salary ordinance (final reading and adoption).
Council introduced a set of bond ordinances and other measures for first reading and set public hearings for May 28, including roadway improvements (Ordinance 2026-13), municipal parks improvements (Ordinance 2026-14), a $2.4 million lead service line replacement bond ordinance including a $1 million HUD grant (Ordinance 2026-15), water and sewer utility improvements (Ordinance 2026-16), and amendments to historic-district procedures (Ordinance 2026-17). The council noted a typographical correction to be made in the historic-district ordinance.
The council also approved resolutions 26-97 through 26-105 on the consent agenda and authorized administrative appointments including Susan Divine (Green Team) and reappointments to the rent-leveling and Shade Tree boards. All formal roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript were unanimous 'yes' by the members present.
Next steps: the borough will hold the scheduled public hearings on the introduced bond ordinances on May 28, and staff said they will proceed with required grant and debt ordinances where funding is available.
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