By Donald Gilpin

Princeton University will be contributing more than $50 million over the next five years to the town of Princeton, community organizations, and lower- and middle-income residents, according to a University announcement made on Tuesday, January 30.

The funds will be supporting mutual town-University interests including sustainability and resiliency, socio-economic diversity and equity, safety and emergency services, college access, mass transit, and municipal infrastructure.

“These financial contributions to the municipality, local nonprofit organizations, and residents reflect the University’s long-standing commitment to support the vibrancy of the Princeton community that we call home,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber, as quoted in a University press release. “We are pleased to advance these shared priorities in collaboration with local government and nonprofit organizations to provide meaningful services and resources across our community.”

Princeton Council President Mia Sacks, who was a member of the team representing the municipality in discussions with University representatives, commended the University’s contributions to the town and echoed Eisgruber’s emphasis on shared priorities and meaningful collaboration.

“We came to the table as partners with an interest in finding collaborative solutions to issues of mutual concern in the town that we share,” she said. “Today’s announcement reflects a welcome increase in recent years of cooperation between the municipality and the University at all levels. These open lines of communication will continue — and the foundation laid during this process will help us to maximize the impact of our work together.”

What the University describes as a “new framework” for contributions to the municipality includes $39.5 million — $28.2 million in unrestricted cash and $11.3 million for specific municipal projects and programs.

The University plan also includes $10 million over five years to a nonprofit organization providing property tax relief for lower- and middle-income Princeton homeowners, with eligible households to be based on income limits set by the

New Jersey ANCHOR Program; $500,000 over five years to the 101:Fund to support scholarships for low-income students who graduate from Princeton High School; and $300,000 over three years to Housing Initiatives of Princeton to provide rental assistance for families and individuals facing housing insecurity.

Funding for the municipal projects and programs will include $7.5 million for sewer infrastructure repair and improvement; $1.5 million for the municipal shuttle service; $1 million over five years to support career fire department personnel in the Princeton Fire Department; $1 million to support the town’s purchase of a new fire department tower truck and high-water rescue vehicle; $250,000 to contribute to the town’s purchase of a new cold-storage facility for the Department of Public Works; and $100,000 for the Department of Human Services to help provide emergency housing for homeless individuals and families.

“The University has for many years made discretionary unrestricted voluntary contributions to the municipality to support its budget,” said University Vice President and Secretary Hilary Parker. “We took a new approach in developing this framework, engaging in a series of collaborative conversations to identify shared priorities for University support.”

She continued, “We think the outcome is a positive one for the municipality, the University, and the residents of Princeton, and we are grateful to our municipal partners for the thoughtful and rigorous discussion we have had over many months.”

The municipal team, which, in addition to Sacks, included Councilmembers Michelle Pirone Lambros and Eve Niedergang, and Municipal Administrator Bernard Hvozdovic, commented in a statement:

“We welcome this significant increase in financial support from Princeton University that will benefit all residents of Princeton. For more than a year we have engaged in a series of productive conversations with University representatives. These planned contributions reflect our mutual commitment to addressing the urgent challenges of affordability, sustainability, and equity within the community we share.”

Parker also noted, “This outcome is a testament to the strong and collaborative relationship the University has with our local leaders. As we advance the University’s teaching and research mission, we have a strong interest in strengthening our regional ecosystem to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of our host community, the surrounding region, and the state of New Jersey.”

Along with Parker, Kristin Appelget, University assistant vice president for community and regional affairs, represented the University in leading discussions with Princeton municipal officials.

The University press release goes on to point out that Princeton University is the largest taxpayer in Princeton and the second largest in Mercer County. The University paid a total of $7.7 million to the municipality of Princeton in property and sewer taxes in 2023. Also, the University announced last March that it planned to contribute more than $14.6 million over five years to the Princeton Public Schools, as well as $1.34 million to Mercer County in 2023, with a gradually increasing payment in subsequent years.