Prior to the April 6th Monmouth City Council meeting, a public hearing was held to present the $42.9 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher breaks down the General Fund portion of the budget:
“The General Fund is $12.9 million and this primarily funds operations of the police and fire departments, as well as, municipal services, which includes the street crew, the street maintenance, snowplowing, and all the administrative staff at City Hall,” says Steinbrecher.
“The Water and Sewer Fund is $16.9 million. These funds are primarily used for the operation and maintenance of all of the City’s municipal water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as the maintenance and repair of the water distribution systems throughout the City and the sanitary sewer collection system. It also includes a $1.5 million for debt service. These are bonds that have been issued previously by the City, such as to build the wastewater treatment plant by Smithfield. There are funds allocated for the construction of the new water treatment plant on West Harlem,” Steinbrecher adds.
“Also, the budget includes a modest one half of one percent increase in the municipal gas and electric utility tax. These funds will be used to help support the funding of a new, full-time City Administrator,” reports Steinbrecher.
City Administrator Steinbrecher informs the meeting lacked a quorum, so no official action was taken by City Council on next year’s budget.
