Manchester residents hit with massive 8. 17% tax increase under new mayor

Manchester Residents Hit With Massive 8.17% Tax Increase Under New Mayor

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1 min read
June 9, 2025

MANCHESTER, N.J. — If you live in Manchester Township, the new 20% electricity increase isn’t your only new expense in 2025. Manchester just passed a budget that raises taxes by an incredible 8.17%. This increase comes as many towns surrounding Manchester have announced flat taxes for 2025.

This tax increase applies only to municipal taxes, not school taxes, which are a separate tax item on residents’ tax bills.

The new municipal budget under Mayor Joseph Hankins will raise taxes for many homeowners in Manchester Township, following unanimous approval by the Township Council.

The $29.7 million tax levy for 2025 includes a municipal tax rate set at 0.385 per $100 of assessed value, according to a report by Jersey Shore Online. This translates to a $108.38 increase for the average homeowner, raising the municipal portion of property taxes from $1,301.21 to $1,409.59 on a house valued at $366,000.

The increase from $1,301.21 to $1,409.59 represents an 8.17% tax increase for most residents.

This marks Mayor Hankins’ first budget presentation since taking office. Only two members of the public commented before the council passed the budget with full support.

Business Administrator Carl Block, recently retired from his job as the Ocean County Clerk, noted that due to a recent township-wide property revaluation, the tax changes won’t impact all residents equally. “This year’s budget will mean a decrease for some taxpayers and an increase for others based on the value of their homes,” he said.

Block, who was ousted from his $206,000 county job, was quickly placed in Manchester Township by former Mayor Robert Arace under the director of the county GOP party boss.

Block’s position was blessed by Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, who has deep ties to land developers in Ocean County. Gilmore, an ally, sought to place block in one of the few towns where he still wields power and influence.

The newly approved tax levy of $29,709,393.49 reflects the township’s anticipated revenue needs, covering services ranging from public safety to municipal operations.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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