Tax Notice

2026 Tax Bill Synopsis

The Township of Hamilton's 2026 Budget is balanced at $33,062,764.  This budget addresses structural financial strain through a 3.48-cent municipal tax rate increase.  In effect, an average home in the Township assessed at $168,756 would see a municipal tax increase of $61.29 in 2026.  We are faced with economic headwinds including inflation, rising utilities, pensions, and healthcare costs. These, compiled with significant losses from tax appeals and commercial real estate ratable loses hit our budget very hard this year.

Although the County and Schools have faced similar challenges with their budgets, it is important that our taxpayers know your tax bill includes the Municipal, County and School amounts but we only have intimate control over the municipal tax rate.

The above is a brief description of the municipal tax increase, but the total increase shown on your tax bill is +0.201 cents per $100. The municipal increase accounts for +0.035, the county +0.058 cents, the local schools +0.067 cents and the regional school tax rate increased +0.040 cents.  For your reference, the chart below breaks out where your tax dollars are allocated. For each dollar collected $0.27 stays with the Township the other $0.73 goes to the Schools and County.

In response, the Township has reduced harsher tax burdens by implementing internal structural cost cuts. Key cost-saving strategies include workforce reductions through attrition and position consolidations. The township also offered higher-deductible health plans and moved to the Statewide JIF insurance fund. The township is also transitioning to fully automated solid waste and recycling collection to save approximately $300,000 annually. With these obstacles, the township also continues paying down debt for prior year’s capital improvements.  As we progress through 2026 and begin planning for 2027, the Township of Hamilton administration is focusing on long-term sustainability by maintaining essential services with our largest focus being public safety and quality of life.  We continue funding capital infrastructure improvements (including up to $1.5 million in road and drainage projects) and fostering economic development through key redevelopment projects like the Atlantic City Racecourse, municipal landfill capping, and now have several new commercial projects in the pipeline.