FANWOOD — The borough council this week introduced the 2025 operating budget, which includes a $90 increase in average municipal property-tax bills.

Total appropriations this year will amount to just over $12.184 million, more than three-quarters of which will be allocated to mandated items such as salaries and benefits, debt service, pensions, insurance and the library. At Monday’s council meeting, Borough Administrator Jesse Moehlman said this year’s rising expenditures can be largely attributed to an 11.2-percent increase in health insurance costs, a 53-percent boost in general liability insurance, a 16-percent rise in debt service and a 2.6percent increase in pension payments.

Slightly more than $8 million is expected to be raised via property taxes in 2025. The average assessed home of $480,000 will have a municipal tax bill for the coming year of $2,893, which accounts for about 21 percent of the total property-tax levy and is $90.70 higher than last year. Pending the receipt of final numbers, it is estimated that the board of education will take in about 62 percent of this year’s total collected taxes while another 16 percent will be earmarked for Union County.

Public-safety expenditures comprise the biggest piece of the borough’s budget, at 22 percent. Debt service accounts for 18 percent, administrative functions, 10 percent and public works, 7 percent.

Mr. Moehlman on Monday also outlined some key accomplishments in 2024, including various road improvements, the completion of the new library, reconstruction of the South Avenue train station parking lot, the start of construction of an emergency shelter at Forest Road Park and various sewer work around the borough and at the North Avenue train station. He also touted the various shared-services arrangements the borough has with neighboring towns, including the Westfield Regional Health Department, public works with Garwood, court administrator with Garwood and construction official with Rahway.

Plans for this year include resurfacing the tennis and basketball courts at La Grande Park, purchasing a new sweeper truck for the public works department and road improvements on Waldon Road, Kyte Place, Graybar Place and Watson Road, The public hearing and final vote on the budget will be held on Monday, May 19. The capital budget will be introduced at some point in the next few months.