If you’ve lived in Middletown for more than a minute, you know the vibe. It’s usually quiet, the traffic on Highway 35 is a predictable nightmare, and the biggest drama is usually whether the bagels are better at one shop versus the other. But honestly, January 2026 has been a bit of a whirlwind. Between a massive reorganization at Town Hall and a school budget situation that has everyone checking their bank accounts, there is a lot of news for middletown nj that actually matters for your wallet and your neighborhood.
We aren't just talking about the usual small-town fluff.
The town is at a weird crossroads. We’re dealing with a multi-million dollar school deficit, new leadership sworn in just days ago, and a controversial housing development that might change the face of Middletown-Lincroft Road. Let’s get into what’s actually happening on the ground.
The Reorganization: Who’s Running the Show in 2026?
The year kicked off with the annual reorganization meeting on January 4th. If you missed it (and let's be real, most people were still recovering from New Year's), it wasn't just a ceremony. Ryan Clarke and Kevin Settembrino accepted their oaths for three-year terms on the Township Committee.
Why should you care? Because these are the people deciding how your local tax dollars get spent. Mayor Tony Perry is back at the helm, and the committee is already fast-tracking a few things that could hit your radar soon. They’ve been talking a lot about "shared services" with the school district. That’s basically government-speak for trying to find ways to save money so the school tax hike doesn't hurt quite as much.
The School Budget Mess: Is Your Tax Bill About to Explode?
This is the big one. The elephant in the room. The Middletown Township School District has been staring down a nearly $10 million funding gap for the 2025-2026 school year.
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For a while, things looked grim. Like, "closing elementary schools" grim.
Superintendent Jessica Alfone and the Board of Education (BOE) were looking at a plan called "Middletown Reimagined." The original proposal included closing Navesink and Leonardo Elementary Schools and turning Bayshore Middle into an elementary school.
Where things stand now:
The town stepped in. Mayor Perry and the Committee basically struck a deal to save the schools from closing—at least for now. They restructured the police department’s SLEO III program (the officers in the schools) to save the BOE $600,000.
But here’s the kicker you need to know: the district still qualified for a state tax incentive program. This means they could potentially raise school taxes by 10.1% this year. That is a massive jump, way above the usual 2% cap.
- The Math: A 4.88% tentative levy plus an additional 5.2% hike allowed by the state.
- The Consequence: If they don't do the hike, they’re looking at laying off over 100 staff members and cutting sports.
- The Schedule: The BOE has a workshop meeting on January 22nd and a big voting meeting on January 27th at High School North. If you want a say, that's where you need to be.
Magnolia Oaks: The 11-Acre Debate
Have you seen the "For Sale" or "Development" signs near 911 Middletown-Lincroft Road?
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There is a new application before the Planning Board for a subdivision called Magnolia Oaks. It’s basically an 11.8-acre property—the old estate of a local dentist—that a group called Neuro-Inclusive Neighborhoods of NJ wants to turn into a 10-lot community.
This isn't your standard cookie-cutter development. Two of the homes are specifically designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The other six would be single-family homes sold to the public.
It sounds like a great cause, right? But in Middletown, any mention of "subdivision" usually gets the neighbors talking about traffic on Cornerstone Way (the proposed name for the new cul-de-sac). The Planning Board is still chewing on the details, like whether the disabled-adult housing will be "deed-restricted" forever.
Quick Hits: What Else is Happening?
Sometimes the most important news is the stuff that helps you avoid a ticket or a headache.
- Property Taxes: Quarterly payments are due February 1st. The online portal is open, but remember there’s a 10-day grace period. If you pay after February 10th, you’re looking at interest and potentially a tax sale.
- Croydon Hall: There’s a survey out right now (closing January 18th!) about putting a new multi-use turf field at Croydon Hall. They want to make it a home for "Buddy Baseball" and inclusive sports.
- The Trash Situation: Christmas tree collection for the North Zone is Saturday, January 17th. If you miss it, you're stuck with that dry pine needle bomb in your yard until spring.
The Reality of Living Here in 2026
The vibe in town is a mix of "let’s keep Middletown the way it is" and "how on earth are we going to pay for these schools?"
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While the state (under Governor Murphy) just signed the Farmland and Woodland Tax Assessment Integrity and Investment Act to modernize how farms are taxed, that doesn't offer much relief for the average suburban homeowner in a 1,500-square-foot ranch. We are seeing a real tension between the town's desire to preserve open space—like the recent talk of using the Open Space Trust Fund to buy 10 acres at Sleepy Hollow Road—and the desperate need for more tax revenue.
What You Should Actually Do Now
Don't just read the news; do something about it.
First, check your mail for the actual tax impact of the proposed school budget. 10.1% sounds like a number on a page until it’s an extra $800 a year on your specific bill.
Second, if you have kids in the district, show up at High School North on January 27th. The "Save Middletown Schools" group is vocal, but the BOE needs to hear from more than just the usual crowd.
Finally, if you’re a veteran or know one, check out the new 22,000-square-foot housing facility at Campbell’s Junction that just opened. It’s one of the few recent projects everyone actually seems to agree was a good idea.
Middletown is changing. It's not the same town it was ten years ago, and 2026 is looking like the year where a lot of these long-standing budget and development issues finally come to a head. Keep your eyes on the Township Committee meetings—they're streamed on YouTube and FiOS Channel 26—because that's where the real decisions are being made while we're all stuck in traffic on Red Hill Road.