October 21, 2026 Town Talk · Community update
East Orange budget update
Hi TBA community! East Orange officials outlined a roughly $204.9 million budget and an initial $30 million budget gap. They reported that reserves fell from approximately $17 million to $4.4 million.
To help address the shortfall, the city received $14 million in state assistance that officials confirmed is a loan requiring repayment. They also identified approximately $7.4 million in deferred charges carried forward. The meeting did not provide a complete total of the city’s outstanding debt.
The CFO quoted a 15.18% tax increase, with officials attributing the increase to the municipal portion. Individual household impacts may vary.
The infographics below explain these reported figures and the city’s proposed five-year recovery plan.
