Ridgewood Tax Alert: 2026 Budget Introduced with 3.98% Increase—Here’s the Monthly Cost for Homeowners
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Village of Ridgewood has officially introduced its 2026 municipal budget, navigating what officials describe as an “especially tough” fiscal year. Driven largely by a massive spike in healthcare costs and emergency snow removal, the proposed budget includes a 3.98% tax levy increase over 2025.
The Bottom Line: What Will You Pay?
For the average Ridgewood homeowner with a property assessed at $715,000, the municipal portion of the tax bill is projected to rise by:
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$195.89 annually
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$16.32 per month
“Skyrocketing Costs”: The Drivers Behind the Numbers
Village Manager Keith Kazmark introduced the budget on March 11, characterizing it as a “living document” that reflects the current economic reality. Kazmark cited several “pressing concerns” that made this year’s balancing act difficult:
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Health Benefits: A staggering $1.3 million increase in employee healthcare and prescription expenses—the single largest cost driver for 2026.
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Weather Emergencies: Significant unbudgeted costs for snow removal following two historic storms earlier this year.
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Global Volatility: The impact of world affairs on rising fuel costs for village vehicles and machinery.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Proposal
Despite the tax hike, the administration emphasized that the budget is designed to protect the Village’s long-term financial health. The plan:
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Maintains Municipal Services: No cuts to current programs or services.
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Infrastructure Investment: Continues funding for parks, roads, and critical municipal infrastructure.
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Financial Stability: Protects Ridgewood’s coveted AAA credit rating and maintains healthy reserve accounts.
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Flat Staffing: Includes a flat employee count to manage payroll growth.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
The Village Council has scheduled a formal budget hearing for April 8, 2026. This will be the primary opportunity for the public to comment before the Council casts its final vote to adopt or reject the 2026 budget.
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The spending has always been skyrocketing.
They hid it last year by thinking Valley Hospital would be paying real estate taxes.
Wait until they lose that case.
Evan isn’t worried, we can just bond it.
What about the useless 400,000 dollars pavilion. Maybe they should raise the gatehouse rent to bring it up to market and get some extra cash. 3500 a month is not enough for use of the entire park and pavilion
“Global Volatility”
They mean TRUMP, don’t let them fool you.
“two historic storms”
Yes, when children are studying the fall of Western Civilization in 2000 years, these will form the basis of an entire chapter in the history book.
Just after the chapter on how the sun rises in the east.
All the overtime they are talking about from storm and snow etc are paid back by FEMA. All of these instances were declared a state of emergency.
Only one met the requirements and a declaration has not been made by the federal government as of yet.
Get rid of the cadillac health care plans. Increase the copay
Instead of giving trash collectors easy time (curbside on snow days which allows their task work to be peformed in half the usual time) make them plow snow like NYC
Isn’t the cost of fuel a ‘bid’ on an annual contract ? (using xxx mils over the NY tank harbor price’)
Stop mowing Habernickel park 3 times a week and cutting down all the trees in the park
Kazmark says other towns increases will be much higher. We will fact check his proclamation as time goes on.
They can’t be trusted.
Raise healthbarns rent to be in line with 2026 rents, charge for added use of space and parking and pavilion. Charge for the damage the business has caused to grass and other areas. Stop having tax dollars going toward facilitating a private business. Use your assets like the gatehouse and bring in some money. Biggest hand out ever
We moved out of Ridgewood a year and half ago and went down south. Moving out of Jersey was so very hard but, seeing what is happening in the village where I grew up and lived for over 40 years is so sad. Between taxes and all the build up in town, again just so sad
,Um,um, don’t forget about the secret budget for our toxic soil. Remember, that’s just put on the back burner for now, no one knows if anyone has been contaminated. That all has been documented through health department, the state, DEP this will never ever be forgotten. Anyone gets sick down the road with this contamination in their bloodstream or lungs the village is responsible just like the victims of 9/11 in New York. And if any shithead out there, wanna put thumbs down, you know this is ,give me a call. I’ll meet you anytime any place. 🤔 and I’m not threatening anyone, my information is all facts, not like the bullshit you hear from the village.
4% is too much above inflation rate
What about the debt load? It would be nice if they included the debt figures in the presentation. We probably can figure why they didn’t.
Too the people of a thumbs down guess what?🫵🏼, you don’t have any idea what’s going on behind the curtain. My attorney’s are not even in conduct any any business with the village? They have all the information from the DEP and we don’t have to disclose anything to anyone. You’ll see when the report is done and the motion is filed through the state. And then you’ll be taken enough like I always said and sliding it right up your ass. Because that’s where your information is coming from your brains in your ass. That’s why the village is in a position that they’re in. The incident is one of the biggest embarrassment. Screw up in history. Next to the parking garage.. like the investigator/such that we’ve been having these discussions with, cannot believe the village never reached out to the certain party that may have been contaminated. Oh well. Shame on them.