EMERSON—The mayor said residents will see a 1.9% increase in local property taxes as a result of the borough’s introduced $17 million municipal budget, or an increase of $85 annually for an average assessed home here.
Councilors unanimously approved the budget resolution 120-26 on April 7 to introduce the budget. No budget information was provided on the agenda. An average assessed home in Emerson is $449,575, said Mayor Danielle DiPaola.
DiPaola said a public hearing will be held on the proposed 2026 budget May 5, 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall. She said the budget “focuses on improving borough infrastructure as well as maintaining all borough services.”
An introduced 2026 municipal budget of $16,904,285 includes a municipal property tax levy of $13,031,118, which is an increase of $273,919 over 2025’s local tax levy.
“I want to thank everybody for their hard work to craft this budget,” DiPaola said on April 7. She singled out Chief Finance Officer Lauren Roehrer, Finance Committee members Michael Timmerman and NIcole Argenzia, Auditor Gary Higgins, and Administrator Michael Carelli, who met “a lot” over months to compose the 2026 municipal budget.
Administrator Michael Carelli told us that Emerson was among a small number of municipalities in the area to see a decrease in its Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) sewer bill, with a reduction of $77,926.
Moreover, he said Emerson experienced a decrease in its state pension obligations totaling $38,885. In addition, he said the borough scaled back capital projects, resulting in a $328,500 reduction in the capital improvement fund allocation.
“These reductions played a key role in shaping this year’s budget. Despite decreases in certain revenue sources from 2025, including surplus and construction code fees, we were able to maintain overall budget stability,” Carelli told us.
He said many municipalities are facing “significant tax increases” due to statutory and contractual obligations, especially related to the state Health Benefits Plan. He said other towns are also exceeding 5% municipal increases, adding over $200 to an average tax bill.
Emerson’s average $85 municipal tax increase does not include increases in the local school budget or county tax rate increases. Those will be known soon, said officials, and added to the local property tax increase.
Capital improvements planned
The proposed 2026 budget notes six government departments to receive $3,048,125 in capital improvements, most to be financed over two or three years.
The public works department shows six items to be funded including:
- A landscape trailer $17,500
- Salt bin/rear garage $450,000
- Mechanic’s vehicle $55,000
- New chassis for dump truck $20,000
- Ford F250 with plow $70,000;
- Street sweeper, $650,000
The buildings and grounds department notes capital improvements for improvements to public properties at $180,000, and replacement of fuel tanks at $300,000.
Other capital budget items include for the Police Department: Toughbooks $17,125; Ford Maverick $38,000; flashing pedestrian crossing signs $6,500; and solar powered signs $30,000.
Other capital items include the Fire Department: Trunk paging devices, $27,500 and personal protective equipment, $16,500.
Also, the administration: a local roads improvement program, $1,025,000; and various parks improvements, $82,500. The clerk’s office requests $62,500 to digitize records to make them publicly accessible.
Residents can view the 97-page 2026 budget on the borough website under Government-Financial Documents-2026 Municipal Budget Introduced 4.7.26.