Good morning, Morris County.
Spring is in the air — and apparently so is fiscal discipline. We will get to that in a moment.
We are The Morris Brief. Every week, we pull together the local news, events, and community updates you actually need to know. No algorithms, no drama, no filler. Just your county.
Here is what is happening this week.
WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Spring Craftmorristown — New Jersey most unique juried craft show running at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Handmade goods, local artisans, and the best of what NJ makers produce.
Morris County Planning Board — Multiple municipal planning and zoning board meetings on the calendar through the county this week. Local land use decisions happen here first.
WHAT IS NEW
Morris County Budget Adopted — No Tax Rate Increase for 7th Year in a Row. The Morris County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2026 budget on March 25 with zero increase in the county tax rate — the seventh consecutive year without a county-level tax hike. In New Jersey, that is not common.
Public Safety Complex Expansion Wins Statewide Award. The Morris County Public Safety Complex Expansion project was recognized at the NJ Alliance for Action Annual Capital Construction Projects Awards as one of New Jersey top infrastructure initiatives.
Detective Captain Denise Thornton Honored on Retirement. Morris County honored Detective Captain Denise Thornton of the Morris County Sheriff Office, marking her retirement after more than 25 years of service.
NEED TO KNOW
2025 Development Activity Report Released. Morris County released its annual Development Activity Report for 2025. The full report is available at morriscountynj.gov.
Morris County Real Estate: A 2.4M Chatham Home Tops the Week. The most expensive residential sale in Morris County for the week of March 16-22 was a single-family home in Chatham at 2.4 million. Spring selling season is now officially underway.
Open Space Update: Spring Trail Access. Morris County Park Commission properties are fully open for spring. morrisparks.net has the full calendar of spring programs.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: County College of Morris Gets a Culinary School
County College of Morris completed its brand-new Center for Entrepreneurship and Culinary Science at the Randolph campus. The project took five years and nearly 12 million dollars. Chef David Burke spoke at the opening: Twenty-five years from now, the best restaurants in the state will be in Morris County because of this culinary school.
A NOTE FROM US
This is our first issue. The Morris Brief exists because Morris County deserves a great local newsletter. We are independent — not affiliated with any newspaper, county agency, or political organization.
Forward this to one person who lives in Morris County. That is how we grow.
See you Wednesday.
— The Morris Brief