Long Branch council adopts 2026 municipal budget after technical amendment

The Long Branch City Council on June 24 adopted a technical amendment required by the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services and then approved the city's 2026 municipal budget. Council members voted to adopt Resolution R-132-26, which reclassifies certain employee health insurance appropriations between categories subject to the statutory appropriation cap and those outside it, and then adopted Resolution R-133-26 to approve the full 2026 budget.

The attorney explained that the Division of Local Government Services submitted a final review at 3:10 p.m. the day of the meeting and required a technical amendment. City officials said the amendment does not change the total amount of spending, the amount raised by taxation, or service levels; it changes only where some health-insurance costs are categorized in the budget documents.

Finance staff told residents the city began the year with roughly $13 million in surplus, proposed to use about $7 million in the 2026 budget and expects an ending fund balance of about $6.3 million. When asked about increases in certain line items, staff said much of the apparent increase reflects how items are reported under the state's cap calculations and rising health benefit costs across employees rather than a demonstrated, large new programmatic expansion.

Council adopted the amendment by roll call and then adopted the municipal budget. The meeting record shows Dangler absent; the roll calls recorded a majority of present members voting yes on both the amendment and the budget adoption.

Officials said a "user-friendly" budget summary will be posted online after adoption as required; the staff offered to meet with residents who wanted a line-by-line explanation.

What happens next: with adoption, the budget takes effect as adopted. Officials said the amendment required by the state was processed immediately so the council could legally adopt the budget at the same meeting.