As of today, Bordentown Township has $7.3 million in surplus -- that’s 37.2% of our total municipal budget for 2026.
For context: a healthy surplus is considered anywhere between 16.7% and 30%.
We’re above it. Intentionally.
And here’s the reality -- a lot of municipalities aren’t even close. Many towns across New Jersey and the country operate with little to no surplus, living budget cycle to budget cycle, one bad storm or unexpected expense away from a financial crisis. It’s more common than you’d think, and residents often don’t find out until it’s too late.
We don’t operate that way.
This money is our cushion. Our safety net. The reason we don’t panic when an emergency hits or costs spike unexpectedly. It’s the reason your taxes don’t swing wildly year to year.
And honestly? We protect it like it's sacred -- because it is.
Every dollar has a job -- and yours is working harder than you think. A portion goes toward next year's budget so we don't have to raise as much from you. The rest is squirreled away, untouched, right where it belongs.
This didn’t happen overnight. It’s built by consistently spending less than we take in, year after year. It’s the same principle your financial advisor would tell you -- save before you spend.
And if you really want to understand how far we’ve come — in 2018, Bordentown’s total surplus was $1.99M and we had to use $1.2M of it just to get by. Today we’re sitting at $7.3M with $3.6M protected and untouched. That’s not luck. That’s eight years of showing up, making smart decisions, and never losing sight of who we’re doing this for.
Towns that don’t maintain a surplus often have to borrow money to cover unexpected costs -- and that borrowing gets paid back with interest. Guess who pays that interest? Taxpayers.
We’d rather save now than ask you to pay for it later.
Have questions? We’re rolling out your 2026 Budget as we speak -- so stay tuned for all the details! Contact Mike Theokas at m.theokas@bordentowntownship.org.
