The Gloucester Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget in the amount of $88.4 million last Wednesday, April 30, in the colonial courthouse by a vote of 6-1. Supervisor Phil Bazzani was the sole dissenter.
The board voted to increase 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. 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.
“There must be some means testing for individuals and families who can afford to pay for lunches,” said Bazzani during the meeting.
“There is a balance somewhere,” continued Bazzani. “But to just allow free lunches for everyone, despite the fact that some can pay, seems like it’s unfair for those who have no children in schools and their taxes are being, you know, used for that.”
“We’re not saying no,” said supervisor Dr. Robert “JJ” Orth. “We’re just saying there are people that can afford it.”
Board member Tony Nicosia asked during the meeting that GCPS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Vladu and Deputy Superintendent Bryan Hartley make the application process for free and reduced-priced lunches for families as easy as possible so students can receive the service if needed.
“They may never get it because of mom and dad’s situation as far as literacy,” said Nicosia about the free and reduced-priced meals program for students. Another topic of discussion for the supervisors included public utilities.
“We’re not doing anything to help utilities,” said supervisor Chris Hutson.
“The rate increase is just to help us operate,” said Director of Public Utilities Katey Legg about the board’s April 1 decision to increase water and sewer rates by 14 percent. “The rate increase does not account for any capital projects.”
The board hopes to provide more funds to utilities with the excess funding that is anticipated after the first tax payments are received.
Supervisors 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 salary study ($690,000);
—Selective staff career ladder increases ($73,311);
—Health insurance premium increase of 12.5 percent ($634,714);
—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 last Wednesday’s meeting:
—An ordinance setting tax levies for calendar year 2025;
—A resolution appropriating funds for FY26; and
—A resolution establishing the rate of personal property tax relief for qualifying vehicles.