Mercer County Adopts 2026 Budget

Trenton, NJ – The Mercer County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the 2026 Mercer County Budget. County Executive Dan Benson introduced the budget in late March, and his Administration worked closely with the Board of Commissioners to finalize the budget in May.

The 2026 County Budget totals $431,042,977, excluding grants, an increase of 6.81% over the prior year.

This year’s budget navigates significant cuts to Federal funding, while pressing forward with strategic investments that will yield long-term benefits for residents.

“I want to thank the Board of Commissioners for their partnership throughout the budget process, and for working with us to achieve a budget that truly reflects our shared values,” said County Executive Dan Benson. “Since taking office, our Administration has cleaned up the County’s finances and achieved fiscally responsible budgets that still protect critical services. Although we continue to face significant budget pressures, from Federal cuts to rising healthcare costs, Mercer County’s financial outlook is much brighter than it was three years ago, allowing us to invest in our residents and our future.”

“I’m pleased that our Board was able to work with the Administration to produce a final budget that reflects our values and priorities,” said Commissioner Chair Terrance Stokes. “Throughout our budget process we focused on ways to make our government more efficient, allowing us to continue to care for our most vulnerable residents, while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer money.”

“Budgets always involve some tough tradeoffs,” said Commissioner Vice-Chair Cathleen Lewis, “but I believe that our 2026 budget strikes the right balance between meeting our residents' needs, protecting our taxpayers, and investing in our future.”

The Adopted budget can be viewed here.

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