Town Hall · Independence

Independence, NJ town hall & government

Independence spent $16.5 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $3,056 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Independence's government.

Town budget

Where Independence's money goes

Spent
$16.5 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$3,056
typical New Jersey towns: $1,238
Long-term debt
None
none outstanding at year end
Paid to other governments
$14.3 million86%
Police
$995,0006%
Roads & transportation
$492,0003%
Administration & buildings
$421,0003%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$172,0001%
Fire
$49,000<1%
Parks & libraries
$32,000<1%
Interest on debt
$10,000<1%
Health & welfare
$3,000<1%
Sewer & trash
$2,000<1%
Other
$101,0001%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 95%
  • From the state 2%
  • From the federal government 2%
  • Interest, fines & other 1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%
Town workforce

Who works for Independence

Full-time staff
17
20 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$87,400
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
10
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
11 full-time1 part
Administration & buildings
2 full-time5 part
Roads & transportation
4 full-time
Courts, inspections & corrections
0 full-time6 part
Parks & libraries
0 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time7 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Great Meadows Regional School District

Independence's elementary school district, shared with Liberty. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$22,117
New Jersey: $28,441
Students
651
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$525,000
at year end

Where the district's money comes from New Jersey districts overall: 48% local, 46% state, 6% federal

  • Local 72%
  • State 25%
  • Federal 3%

Of the $22,117 per pupil, $12,665 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Independence pay

Typical tax bill
$8,184
a year · New Jersey typical $9,590
Effective rate
2.10%
of home value · New Jersey 2.11%
Typical home value
$390,100
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Independence's government

🏛️ Official websiteindependencenj.com ↗

Town hall & decisions in Independence →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Independence

Independence is represented in Congress by Senators Cory A. Booker and Andy Kim and Representative Thomas H. Kean, Jr.. Mikie Sherrill is governor.

All of Independence's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

You’re browsing

Independence

New Jersey · NJ · Warren County
View town boundary →
Township / city / CDP overlaps possible.
Loading boundary…

Independence is your selected town. The feed includes posts assigned to this town, not a distance radius or ZIP code.

Neighborhoods narrow the feed further, while townwide announcements, events, and issues remain visible.

Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01