Hopewell Township has introduced its proposed 2026 capital budget, outlining $5,911,371 in infrastructure and equipment investments, with road improvements representing the largest share of the spending plan.
A $487,584 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, along with previously allocated funds, will reduce the amount that must be financed through new borrowing. Township officials estimate $5,050,000 will be funded through the issuance of new bonds.
The largest single category in the capital plan is $2,450,371 for roadway improvements, including work on Hopewell-Wertsville Road and other roads on the township’s priority list. The plan also includes funding for guardrail replacements and the township’s traffic calming program.
Improvements to municipal facilities account for another significant portion of the proposal. The budget allocates $1,131,450 for a new roof at the Township Administration building and upgrades to holding cells at the Police Department. An additional $450,000 is earmarked for HVAC improvements and new sally-port doors at the Department of Public Works building.
Parks and recreation projects are also included. The capital plan allocates $389,502 for new trees at Independence Park and construction of a pavilion at Woolsey Park. The pavilion is expected to cost about $700,000 overall, with roughly half already funded through previous budgets.
Other proposed investments include $199,500 to replace playground equipment at the Municipal Athletic Complexand $820,800 for drainage improvements throughout the township, much of which officials said is required under state regulations.
Mayor David Chait said the Township Committee focused on limiting the capital program to essential needs.
He said the committee worked to include primarily safety-related projects and to keep the capital spending plan below the amount of long-term debt the township expects to retire this year.
Chait noted that the capital budget includes equipment and infrastructure with a useful life of 10 years or more. Other equipment purchases have been moved to the township’s operating budget, reflecting what Committee member Kevin Kuchinski has described as a “pay-as-you-go” philosophy.
Public discussion of the capital budget is scheduled for the Township Committee’s March 16 meeting. Officials said the township is also in the final stages of preparing its 2026 operating budget. The next Budget Committee meeting will be held March 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Township Administration Building.
Affordable housing ordinances introduced
The committee also introduced two ordinances related to Hopewell Township’s fourth-round affordable housing plan, which covers the period from 2025 through 2035.
Township Attorney Steven Goodell said the measures establish the framework for implementing the plan and set out the administrative requirements needed to comply with state rules.
The ordinances address issues such as reporting and monitoring accessibility requirements, maximum sales and rental prices for affordable units, accessible construction standards, and development fee schedules.
Goodell emphasized that the ordinances do not change the major elements of the township’s housing plan, including the number of units the township is required to plan for under state law.
Instead, he said, the measures essentially remove the previous third-round housing requirements and replace them with the state’s new fourth-round standards.
Other township business
The Township Committee also approved several ordinances introduced last month.
Among the changes:
• The intersection of Federal City Road and Blackwell Road will become an all-way stop.
• At Brandon Road and Howe Court, left turns will be prohibited in both directions, and stop signs will be installed on Howe Court.
• The Police Department will receive 38 wearable safety lights, valued at $5,839, donated by the Spirit of Blue Foundation.
• The township will purchase an extra-wide mower using $152,000 from the Open Space Capital Fund.
• As in past years, the township approved a resolution allowing it to exceed the state-set municipal budget cap by up to 1.5 percent if needed, while noting it has historically not used the increase.
Officials said the measure allows the township to bank the additional cap capacity for potential future use or emergencies.
The committee also approved a new labor agreement with the union representing public works employees, setting cost-of-living adjustments of 3.5 percent in 2026 and 3.25 percent in each of the following two years.
Councilwoman Courtney Peters-Manning reported that the township’s deer management season has concluded, with 64 deer harvested. She also noted that a new ambulance and a new tanker truck for the fire department were delivered last week.
Looking ahead, Hopewell Valley Restaurant Week will take place April 13–19, with participating restaurants across the valley offering special menus throughout the week.
