EMERSON—Borough officials introduced a 2025 budget on April 1 that includes a tax levy of $12.2 million and an average tax increase of $143 for an average home assessed at $440,767.
The council introduced the budget 5-0. Councilman Michael Timmerman was absent.
“As always, this is a living and breathing document, and numbers could go up or go down. Normally we try to trim them,” noted Mayor Danielle DiPaola during a brief budget introduction.
Officials did not discuss total budget costs, or year to year comparisons at the introduction.
A public hearing on the budget will be held 7:30 p.m. on May 6. The 82-page budget is posted on the borough website under the Government menu. Click on Financial Documents.
DiPaola thanked the Finance Committee for their hard work on the budget this year. She said this year’s budget “continues to focus on improving our borough’s infrastructure” which includes the annual road paving program that will use $2,045,252 in grants to offset municipal taxes for improvements that deal with drainage issues throughout town.
She said the increase amounts to approximately $12 per month on an average home. “That is a 3.3% tax increase,” said the mayor.
“At this time the governing body is unable to project with any accuracy the overall tax 2023 rate for the community. Both school and county tax requirements have not yet been finalized,” reads the introduced budget.
Councilwoman Jill McGuire, added, “I hope that our efforts will be to bring it down.” DiPaola agreed.
The local school district includes Emerson Junior-Senior High School, Patrick M Villano Elementary School and Memorial Elementary School. School trustees include Behrooz Pasdar, president; Amy Mara, vice president; and members William Graulich, Amanda Riccardi, and Keith Smith.