Township Council Meeting (formerly 2.24.26) — Packet

30-26 February 24, 2026 RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING AND SUMMARIZING THE DEBT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND POLICY WHEREAS, the powers of the Township of West Orange, N.J. (the “Township”), include the authorization to issue capital and bond ordinances for the purposes of acquiring capital assets; and WHEREAS, the Township seeks to achieve and maintain bond ratings commensurate with demonstrating a long-term commitment to sound financial planning; and WHEREAS, the Township recognizes that annual debt service costs meet or exceed 12.50% of the operating budget and that current debt exceeds $170 million after a more than 50 percent increase in the last five years; and WHEREAS, the Township recognizes that not actively managing capital needs, debt issuance and debt service requirements, especially during a period of higher interest rates, places a financial burden on the community and has an adverse impact on the property tax rate and the ability to provide services; and WHEREAS, the Township desires to memorialize and establish many of the existing principles, practices, and metrics associated with the management of its existing and future debt portfolio with the long-term goal of better serving residents with reduced debt levels and debt service needs, resulting in a pay-as-you go cash-led capital and investment function; and WHEREAS, the Township finds and determines that adoption of the attached Debt Management Policy (the “Debt Management Policy”) will help ensure that the debt is issued and managed prudently in order to maintain sound fiscal policy; and WHEREAS, this policy achieves strategic success by freeing up millions of debt service dollars (rather than spent on debt service payments) annually to support operations, capital