JACKSON – The township’s long awaited municipal budget had its presentation during a recent Township Council meeting.
The proposed municipal tax rate is 0.254 per $100 assessed value. The municipal tax on a home assessed at $652,896 – the township average – is $1,661.
The average assessment on a residence in 2024 was $332,938, and they would now be assessed at $652,896 this year. They would experience a $1 increase in their municipal taxes. This article does not cover the school, county, or other budgets that make up a tax bill.
While residential assessments have doubled, it doesn’t mean that taxes doubled.
The budget decreased from last year’s $59,567,311 to this year’s $58,762,798, a reduction of $804,513.
The amount of money raised in taxes increased from $36,039,726 to $36,715,100, an increase of $675,374.
The council approved its 2025 spending plan saying it was thoroughly reviewed for the first time in a decade by members of council. Council members also praised the budget presentation which was primarily given by the township’s new chief financial officer, Stephanie Marlin. She replaced Sharon Pinkava who served as CFO for 27 years, and retired.
A presentation featuring a slide show helped explain how it was prepared and how it was affected by the township’s recent revaluation. It noted the relatively small municipal portion (18%) of the overall tax rate was achieved.
The presentation noted that the 2% increase of the municipal tax levy showed $675,374 in additional revenue generated. The spending plan allows for continued progress toward longer-term open space and capital plans.
The township’s revaluation did not increase the total amount of revenue to be raised by taxation, according to the presentation.
Some attendees at the meeting said they felt the presentation did not go into enough detail about how money was being spent and how it compared to last year’s budget nor which departments saw increases or decreases in staffing and which departments’ budgets had increases or decreases.
The new budget will affect the police department which councilmembers have repeatedly said is understaffed in some of its divisions.
Some residents said they would have liked to see the presentation address how employee contract settlements affected the budget process.
It was noted by one resident who spoke during the public comment period of the meeting that his analysis of comparable salaries in other Ocean County communities consistently showed Jackson ranked first or second highest for “executive level” salaries.
The lack of enforcement of zoning, parking and several other ordinances was criticized by three other residents. These complaints were prompted by the introduction of an ordinance to regulate electric and motorized bicycles by youth. Two residents expressed that adding more ordinances to the list of ordinances that were not being enforced now was pointless.
One resident remarked, “when I complain about this, the answer I get from council is, ‘We don’t have enough police.’ I’m tired of it. How can you create a new ordinance when you don’t have enough police to enforce the ordinances that are already on the books?”
Public Relation Services
Resident Valerie Tudor brought up the salary and performance of public relations services provided by resident Phil Stilton during that meeting. Stilton receives on average, $4,000 a month for those services.
Tudor asked the Council why it retained Stilton voicing what she called “spiteful, vengeful posts” on his website and Facebook pages that favored one candidate in November’s council election and was critical of another.
“Is he blackmailing you in any shape or form?” Tudor asked.
Kuhn responded, “No, ma’am.”
“Well, that seems to be what he does. That seems to be his pattern and that’s why people end up using him and if they don’t then they bad-mouth him,” Tudor added.
Tudor went on to say, “the Town Council is supposed to represent me, a resident of Jackson and the rest of us. That makes you look petty, small and vindictive, and consequently me.” Looking to the audience, she asked “do you want this” to which audience members said no.
Kuhn interjected that, “his personal feelings toward anything is his personal view. What he does, that’s not what he does for Jackson. What he does in his personal life is fine.”
Burnstein said, “we don’t control his First Amendment.”
Tudor expressed that the council had the right to specify terms of Stilton’s employment requiring him to be politically neutral.
Kuhn stated there was a distinction between Stilton’s work for the township and his personal views. “The only thing he does is post announcements on our Township Council page. He does a great job on our Township Council page.”
Ordinances
Ordinance 2025-32 entitled “Administration” revising township code pertaining to the “Department of Public Safety” was passed. The ordinance concerns police appointments, tenure, qualifications, and leaves of absence.
Appointments of entry level police officers may, in the sole discretion of the appropriate authority, be made in accordance with the provisions of state regulations.
On their first reading were Ordinance 2025-33 which would authorize the purchase of property at 39 Georgian Boulevard; Ordinance 2025-34 which would amend Township code of bicycles; and Ordinance 2025-35 which would amend land use and development regulations. These ordinances will have a public hearing during the Council’s September 23 meeting.
Resolutions
Resolutions that were approved that evening included R286-2025 which authorized a change order for the contract between Jackson and Clear Span that jumped the contract amount by $37,897.92, resulting in an adjusted contract price to $102,209.71.
Another change order, R287-2025 concerned a contract between the Township and Colliers Engineering and Design raising the contract amount by $10,500.00 with an adjusted contract price of $37,500.00
R289-2025 awards a contract to Action Uniforms for police uniforms. The contract terms include a 24-month period with the option of a 12-month extension.
Resolution 290-2025 authorized T&M Associates for the preparation, advertisement and acceptance
of bids for the township’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project which involves concrete accessibility improvements to the Justice Complex.
Township Clerk Sandra Martin who recently returned from maternity leave was noted in R291-2025 which authorized the execution of an employment agreement for her as Municipal Clerk. Martin was hired early this year.
Little League Honored
Before the night’s business began the council honored local 12-year-old Holbrook Little leaguers whose winning record earned them a mayoral proclamation and a presentation of certificates to each player for their standing as New Jersey State Champions this season.
The team was riding high after a 12 to 5 victory over Elmora in late July. The unbeaten baseball team went on to regionals at Bristol, Connecticut that began on August 2.
Sign Questioned
A Brookwood resident complained about a new sign written in Hebrew text only that was erected at Woodlane and South New Prospect roads announcing something being developed.
“I should be able to read a sign and know what is being built on that property without having a friend come over and translate it,” the resident commented.
Township Attorney Gregory McGuckin explained that legal signs weren’t in the purview of the Council. “If the sign is legal, and I don’t know if it is, the township cannot control what’s on it.”
