Roselle Council Holds Public Hearing on 2026 Municipal Budget

The Roselle Borough Council held a public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget during its regular meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The budget, originally introduced in April, is pending official review by the state.

The borough has been operating under a temporary budget for the 2026 calendar year. With October approaching, council members expressed concern about the deadline for state approval and potential fines for late budget adoption.

Roselle Business Administrator Denise Wilkerson reported on state coordination efforts. "There has been a tremendous amount of conversation with the DCA around this particular budget. The reason we are not being fined is because we are in constant communication with the DCA," Wilkerson stated.

Borough Chief Financial Officer Peggy Gorman informed the council that further amendments will need to be made pending input from the state.

A major issue discussed was the borough's anticipated surplus line. According to Gorman, the annual financial statement indicated that the borough had grossly overestimated the amount in the anticipated surplus line. Wilkerson noted that past CFOs had not properly appropriated the borough's funds, requiring significant corrective work going forward.

Second Ward Councilman Brandon Bernier highlighted concerning financial trends. The fund balance has declined dramatically from $7.4 million to $3.5 million, as the borough inappropriately used the balance as a recurring revenue source over multiple years.

The problem deepened in 2025. The borough budgeted the fund balance at $4.7 million, but the actual amount was only $1.3 million — a substantial shortfall that reflects years of mismanagement.

"This is about us budgeting appropriately and responsibly for the residents of this borough," Bernier stated. "We can't hide from this anymore."

Union County Life has been tracking Roselle's fiscal and governance developments. The council's acknowledgment of past financial mismanagement represents a shift toward transparency and corrective action.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Rosetta McCamery acknowledged the financial pressures facing municipalities nationwide while calling for proactive solutions. "Right now, we need solutions, we need ideas, we need innovation, we need people to come to the table who have something to bring that is going to help us close the gap for next year," McCamery said.

The council will continue working with the state to finalize the 2026 budget and move toward formal adoption.

FAQ

What is Roselle's current budget status?
Roselle is operating under a temporary budget for 2026 while the formal 2026 municipal budget is pending official review by the state (DCA). The budget was introduced in April 2026 and is currently under state review.

Why are council members concerned about October?
The state has a deadline for local budget approval. With October approaching, council members expressed concern about potential fines for failing to meet the deadline. The Business Administrator reports that constant communication with the state has prevented fines thus far.

What is the fund balance decline and why did it happen?
The borough's fund balance declined from $7.4 million to $3.5 million — a loss of $3.9 million. This happened because the borough inappropriately used the fund balance as a recurring revenue source over multiple years rather than preserving it as a financial reserve.

What happened with the 2025 budget?
In 2025, the borough budgeted $4.7 million in fund balance but the actual amount available was only $1.3 million — a significant shortfall that reflects years of financial mismanagement.

What is the surplus line issue?
The annual financial statement revealed that the borough had grossly overestimated the amount in the anticipated surplus line. Past CFOs did not properly appropriate the borough's funds, requiring significant corrective work going forward.

How is the council addressing these issues?
The council is working with the state on amendments to the budget and is focused on budgeting appropriately and responsibly going forward. Council members are calling for solutions, ideas, and innovation to address the budget gap.

What is the timeline for budget adoption?
The council will continue working with the state to finalize the 2026 budget and move toward formal adoption. The state deadline is in October 2026.