Gloucester supervisors voted to approve the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget Wednesday evening, April 30, in the colonial courthouse by a vote of 6-1. Supervisor Phil Bazzani was the sole dissenter.
The board increased the real estate tax rate by 3.1 cents per $100 of assessed value, meaning the 2025 tax rate will be 61.4 cents per $100. Meanwhile, the personal property levy will change from $2.95 per $100 of assessed value to $3.10; a 15 cent increase.
As of Wednesday’s vote, the budget will include full funding for the Community Eligibility Provision program/food service support at Gloucester County Public Schools in the amount of $450,000 as a one-time expenditure from the unassigned fund balance.
The board also approved an additional $10,000 to be allocated to Bay Aging and the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic. At the start of budget season, these nonprofits were both set to receive level funding. The Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society is set to receive an additional $17,370 to match what the shelter had been receiving in FY23. The shelter had received reduced funding in FY24 instead of level funding.
Beginning the student device replacement cycle of Chromebooks ($526,240) as requested by the Gloucester County School Board will not be funded.
The budget includes the following:
—A 3 percent cost of living adjustment for county employees, partially state-funded ($837,907);
—An additional 6 percent state-funded increase for dispatchers ($51,115);
—One new position in the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office ($93,741);
—Partial implementation of a salary study (690,000);
—Selective staff career ladder increases ($73,311);
—Health insurance increase of 12.5 percent ($634,714);
—An increase in compensation for the Board of Supervisors ($600 increase for each member);
—Support of Gloucester County Department of Social Services ($2.4 million) and Children Services Act ($788,154);
—$29 million for the capital fund; and
—$8 million for the utilities fund.
The board also unanimously approved the following items during Wednesday’s meeting:
—An ordinance setting tax levies for calendar year 2025;
—Resolution appropriating funds for FY26; and
—Resolution establishing the rate of personal property tax relief for qualifying vehicles.