MONTVALE—The borough’s municipal budget meetings begin Jan. 5, 2026 and will be broadcast on the Zoom platform, Council President and Finance Committee Chair Timothy Lane said.
“We are in budget season. All the departments have been given their budget materials and most of them have sent them back,” Lane told the council Dec. 11.
He said council liaisons to departments can expect to get questions and have discussions about 2026 budgets. He said budget meetings will continue in January, with a goal to wrap up budget hearings by month’s end and approve the budget by April.
“They are public budget meetings…and the public is invited and welcome to participate in those budget meetings,” Lane said.
Meetings begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 5, 12, and 26.
In April 2025, the council unanimously adopted a $23.6 million municipal budget, with a 2.87% increase in municipal taxes. This equated to a $94.49 increase for the average assessed home.
Lane said at the time that Montvale’s 2025 tax increase remained below inflation. He noted that the average home value had increased $55,000 over the past year and $240,000 — 38% — over the past five years. Lane said that increase reflects the borough’s investments in safety, recreation, and infrastructure.
He presented a breakdown of “where your (2025) tax dollar goes,” using a $100 illustration:
- $24.31 to municipal taxes
- $0.59 to municipal open space
- $1.63 to the public library
- $61.90 to schools ($34.70 local; $27.20 regional)
- $11.08 to county taxes
“This budget represents a balance between necessary fiscal restraint and long-term investment in the community that our residents deserve,” Lane said.
In other news, Lane said the volunteer fire department responded to 25 fire calls in November, held two drills, and assisted with holiday decorating and the tree lighting in the park. He said year-to-date totals were 313 calls responded to, 22 drills, and 11 department meetings.
He said new officers voted in for 2026 include returning Fire Chief Geoffrey Gibbons; Michael Cintineo as deputy chief, a new position (Cintineo previously served as a captain); Capt. #1 Bruce Hopper; Capt. #2 Chuck Bynum; and Lieutenants Ray Hutchison and Dan Demarest.