County Executive Benson Introduces Proposed 2026 County Budget

Trenton, NJ – Mercer County Executive Dan Benson delivered his 2026 Budget Address to the Board of County Commissioners, presenting a fiscally responsible budget that navigates rising costs and severe cuts to Federal funding, while investing in critical County services and infrastructure.

“Across the country, local governments are grappling with an increasingly unaffordable world, rising healthcare costs, growing demands on public services, and the continued chaos in Washington," Benson said. “But here in Mercer County, we’ve never let challenges slow us down. We’re continuing to move forward with the key investments that will put us in a strong position for many years to come.”

The proposed budget totals about $430 million dollars, an increase of just over 6% compared to 2025. The overall County tax rate will be 51 cents per-$100 of assessed property value, a slight decrease from last year. Benson noted that this decreasing rate is a result of increasing property values and economic development, and that it is still too soon to know what impact this will have on municipal tax rates for residents.

Benson outlined that three categories of spending together accounted for over 73% of the total increase in the County’s budget:

• Increases in the County’s financial commitment to Mercer County Community College and to the Special Services School District
• Rising costs and essential investments for the County’s Public Safety agencies and services, including the Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, and Corrections Center
• Rising employee healthcare costs

To address rising healthcare costs, the County worked with employee unions to transition out of the State Health Benefits Plan. “Thanks to that partnership, we were able to reduce the expected increase in health care costs for active employees from approximately 31% over prior year to approximately 17.5%,” Benson said. “[Healthcare] costs are still a major driver in this year’s budget... but these bold and proactive steps will also pay dividends for the future.”

Benson also acknowledged that Federal cuts are creating new challenges for Mercer County. He cited an expected loss of $6.5 million in Federal funding for supportive housing, cuts to public health funding, cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, and new bureaucratic burdens tied to employment verification.

The state will help counties address some of the impacts of these cuts, but Benson noted that “The state can only do so much. Mercer will continue to take responsibility for the things we can control.”

Benson emphasized that the County has made significant progress in restoring financial stability.

“When we took office, the County was struggling to keep up with even basic financial management. Audits and financial statements were overdue, internal records were in disarray, and the County was carrying millions of dollars in deferred charges.”

Now, Mercer County’s finances are getting back on the right track. Benson cited a recent bond rating assessment from Moody’s that gave the County a positive outlook.

“The County’s new management team has worked in recent years to improve financial operations and the rebalancing of its budget to be more sustainable.”

“When our credit outlook improves, we can borrow money at a lower rate when we invest in infrastructure and other major projects, which saves taxpayers money in the long run,” Benson said.

“Cost-control is important,” said Benson, “but we must also continue to make strategic investments in projects across our communities.”

The speech highlighted a number of these major investments, including renovations at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark and at the CURE Insurance Arena, which will soon welcome a new professional hockey team, the Trenton Ironhawks. He noted that the County also continues to invest in open space, including the preservation of more than 50 acres purchased from Rider University.

Benson listed some of the ways the County has utilized its funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to address critical needs including:

• Over $5 million upgrades to several Mercer County libraries
• Purchasing wheelchair-accessible senior vans for East Windsor, Ewing, Trenton, and West Windsor and a public health vehicle for Hamilton
• Rehabilitation of the long-shuttered South Ward and Reading Senior Centers in Trenton
• Establishing and funding the new Office of Food Security, which is working with local nonprofits to address hunger in the community

“It’s clear that people from across our region are starting to notice the incredible progress we’re making in Mercer, and they want to be a part of it,” Benson said, citing the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) planned redevelopment of the vacant AMC site in Hamilton.

Throughout the address, Benson emphasized the importance of collaboration, particularly his close partnership with the Board of Commissioners.

“Everything our administration has accomplished, we’ve accomplished working alongside our Commissioners. This budget reflects not only our priorities, but many ideas our Commissioners have contributed over the years, and it’s a reflection of their values as well.”

Benson concluded by acknowledging ongoing challenges while expressing confidence in the County’s direction.

"As you can see, we’ve done a lot and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. But I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There are a lot of challenges that we still have to navigate. Healthcare costs continue to rise. This Federal government continues to be chaotic and unpredictable. For too many families everything is still too expensive and getting more expensive by the day.”

“But I know one thing. We are ready for whatever comes next. I know that because I know Mercer County. We have determination. When we see a problem, we roll up our sleeves and we work together to solve it. We’re building a County that is vibrant, financially responsible, and a place where you want to live, work, and raise a family.”

“We look forward to reviewing the County Executive’s budget and working closely with him to meet critical needs in our community, while continuing to exercise fiscal responsibility,” said Mercer County Board of Commissioners Chair Terrance Stokes.

“We thank the County Executive for presenting his budget for the coming year, and we are committed to collaborating with the administration to continue advancing our shared priorities, serving our residents, investing in our communities, and responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars,” said Mercer County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Cathleen Lewis.

The full speech can be viewed at www.mercercounty.org/2026budgetaddress