It’s hard to believe we’re 150 days into 2025, and in that time, we’ve made meaningful progress on several important fronts.
The township has continued Phase 1 of the Main Street water main replacement project, which has gone incredibly smoothly thanks to the outstanding work of our township staff. Town council – thanks to the leadership of Deputy Mayor Sue Mammarella – also recently passed a long-overdue Historic Preservation Ordinance to help protect the character and charm that makes Moorestown so special.
And we’re taking a proactive, responsible approach to finalizing our Round 4 affordable-housing plan: Councilman Chris Keating and our recently renewed Affordable Housing Committee are helping ensure we meet our state-mandated obligations.
As we approach summer, I’m proud of the foundation we’ve established and remain committed to building on that progress. That’s why for this month’s column, I want to share highlights from Moorestown’s 2025 Municipal Budget, developed over the past several months through a community-centered process.
The largest portion of Moorestown’s municipal budget, 18%, is dedicated to public safety, followed closely by public works at 16%. The rest is divided among services like parks and recreation, road maintenance, trash collection, snow removal, brush pickup, capital improvements and more.
Of every local tax dollar you pay, only 13.89% goes to fund municipal services. The remaining 86% is distributed as follows:
- School district: 65%
- Burlington County and county open space: 16%
- Fire districts: 2.8%
- Township library: 1.69%
These funds are collected by the township but passed on directly to the school district and county. The 13.89% the township retains is what we rely on to deliver all core municipal services.
The proposed 2025 budget is $30.16 million, with just over $16.36 million raised through local taxation. For the average Moorestown home assessed at $465,125, this equates to $1,826.39 per year in municipal taxes, a 2.5% increase of $44.63 per year to fund critical municipal services. Importantly, this budget stays under both the state’s Appropriation and Tax Levy Cap, and Moorestown continues to maintain one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Burlington County.
We’ve faced some cost increases, especially in areas like health insurance premiums, trash collection and ongoing salary negotiations with our police officers. We’ve managed these responsibly, including by using surplus reserve funds to help minimize the burden on taxpayers.
We have also seen cost increases in our water utility, where the need to replace carbon in the filtration units at the North Church Street Water Treatment Plant has led to higher operational costs. This is the first year we’re seeing major component replacements from our recently constructed water plants. Maintaining safe, reliable water is a priority, and we remain committed to providing competitive rates and excellent service.
Public safety continues to be our top priority. This year’s budget funds the addition of a new full-time police officer and a Class II Special Law Enforcement Officer. We’re also in the midst of contract negotiations to ensure our officers are paid fairly and competitively, because bringing in and keeping high-quality officers is essential to keeping Moorestown safe.
Through our capital budget, we’re investing in road repaving, vehicle upgrades for police and public works, playground and rec center improvements and IT system upgrades.
Our Open Space budget includes improvements at Yancy Adams Park, the town green and support for the anticipated completion of the Full Throttle Inclusive Playground at Wesley Bishop Park. Moorestown recreation continues to thrive, with 300-plus programs serving over 8,000 participants, and we’ve been able to maintain programming without cutting services.
Creating this budget was a team effort. I want to thank Chief Financial Officer Robert Nehila, who worked closely with Township Manager Kevin Aberant and all department heads to prepare a thoughtful, fiscally responsible budget. I’m incredibly grateful for their hard work and for the commitment of our entire township staff.
This year, council hosted three public budget workshops – one in person and two virtual – to ensure residents had the opportunity to learn how funds are allocated and ask questions. If you’re interested in learning more, recordings and minutes are available on the township website.
I believe this budget reflects what Moorestown values most: public safety, smart infrastructure investment and strong public services. It’s a forward-looking plan that keeps our foundation strong while preparing Moorestown for the next generation.
The public hearing for the budget was held on June 2 at 7 p.m. I appreciated seeing residents come out to learn more and ask thoughtful questions. Every decision this council makes is guided by one central goal: to ensure you’re getting the best possible services at the lowest possible cost.
I hope everyone had a restful and reflective Memorial Day weekend and took time to remember and honor the brave service members who gave their lives for our freedom.
