Middletown City Council on Nov. 19 unanimously adopted a $64 million budget for 2025, which is about 5 percent, or $3 million, higher than that of the current year.
The budget covers the growing city’s main operating expenses as well as water and sewer funds.
The property tax levy—the city’s largest revenue source—goes up to $24 million, up by around 3 percent from the current year, which is within the tax growth cap computed by a levy limit formula under state law, according to Mayor Joseph DeStefano.
Two major cost drivers are employee pension and health insurance payments, which are up by 8.8 and 18.81 percent, respectively, within the city’s main operating fund, or general fund….