Town Hall · Watchung

Watchung, NJ town hall & government

Watchung spent $10.1 million in the year to December 31, 2022, about $1,689 per resident.

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

Local leadership

Who runs Watchung

From public records (Open States and Wikidata), which can lag behind an election. If a name is out of date, tell us: when two neighbors agree, it's hidden until the records catch up.

Town budget

Where Watchung's money goes

Spent
$10.1 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2022
Per resident
$1,689
typical New Jersey cities: $1,679
Long-term debt
$18.7 million
$3,117 per resident
Police
$4 million40%
Sewer & trash
$1.5 million15%
Administration & buildings
$1.3 million12%
Interest on debt
$969,00010%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$572,0006%
Fire
$228,0002%
Parks & libraries
$134,0001%
Health & welfare
$116,0001%
Paid to other governments
$68,0001%
Other
$1.3 million12%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 92%
  • Fees & charges 3%
  • Interest, fines & other 2%
  • From the state 2%
  • From the federal government 1%
  • From other local governments <1%
  • Other taxes & licenses <1%

Revenue here is well above spending. That usually means Watchung collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted above.

Town workforce · Census estimate

Who works for Watchung

Full-time staff
49
15 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$97,100
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
30
full-time, with power of arrest
Police
37 full-time
Administration & buildings
6 full-time10 part
Roads & transportation
6 full-time
Housing & development
0 full-time3 part
Courts, inspections & corrections
0 full-time1 part
Other
0 full-time1 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate. Watchung didn't report its staffing to the Census Bureau, so these are the Bureau's estimates.

Schools · school year 2023–24

Watchung Hills Regional School District

Watchung's high school district, shared with Long Hill and Warren. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$28,931
New Jersey: $28,441
Students
1,741
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$14.8 million
at year end

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

  • Local 73%
  • State 25%
  • Federal 1%

Of the $28,931 per pupil, $16,694 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.

Also serving Watchung: Watchung Borough School District ($25,687 per pupil).

Property tax

What homeowners in Watchung pay

Typical tax bill
$10,000+
a year · New Jersey typical $9,590
Typical home value
$882,500
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 Watchung's government

🏛️ Official websitewatchungnj.gov ↗

Town hall & decisions in Watchung →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Watchung

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

All of Watchung'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

Watchung

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

Watchung 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/18 · 2025-01-01