BY BRIAN DONAHUE
Staff Writer
Residents may see a decrease in the county portion of their property tax bills in 2005.
Middlesex County Freeholders Director David B. Crabiel expects that when the county budget is introduced this year, it will call for less money to be raised by taxes. He said during the freeholders’ Jan. 6 reorganization meeting that the anticipated tax levy reduction does not mean the county is less expensive to run than it was last year, but “suggests that we do our work more efficiently.”
Crabiel expects the tax levy to be at least $100,000 less than it was last year.
The county, which employs about 2,100 people, is saving money after cutting 59 positions last year and 73 the year before. The positions were from various departments.
“They were all over the place,” Crabiel said Monday. “When someone retires or if someone unfortunately dies, we analyze that position to see if someone else can pick up some of the work. We also forcefully terminated some positions a year ago.”
While more jobs may be eliminated through attrition this year, Crabiel said no positions will be forcefully terminated in 2005.
The county, which operates under a $324 million budget, is also saving money by consolidating its Area Wide Transit System and Central Vehicle Maintenance divisions into the new Department of Transportation, which will focus on improving services before it is expanded to include new services.
“The job cuts helped, downsizing county government,” Crabiel said. “And our revenues increased a little bit, and that helps us.”
Crabiel announced a number of goals during the reorganization meeting, at which his colleagues re-elected him director for the 10th nonconsecutive year, and again named Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina as deputy director.
Crabiel said the board hopes to expand the county’s prescription savings program for seniors and disabled citizens to include working families, and will unveil a Small Business Gap Financing Program to help businesses improve and upgrade their properties or assets. He said the county will also form a Hispanic Affairs Agency and reactivate the Citizens Committee for County Betterment.
“We had that committee years ago, and I believe it’s needed,” Crabiel said of the Betterment group, whose members will be appointed by the freeholders and will meet monthly.
As examples, Crabiel noted, the committee might evaluate whether the animal haven at Johnson Park, Piscataway, should be expanded; or if a pedestrian bridge is needed to accommodate a potential new parking area across River Road from the Cornelius Low House county museum, also in Piscataway.
“I see bright and exciting new developments on behalf of our citizens, and I see county government in general continuing to emerge as a real friend to the citizens of our county,” Crabiel said in his remarks about the coming year.
Also at the meeting, newly elected Freeholder Blanquita Valenti, a New Brunswick councilwoman and former school teacher, was sworn in to her first term. She replaces Jane Z. Brady, who served 12 years but did not seek re-election in 2004.
Dalina and Christopher Rafano were also sworn in to new terms, having been re-elected in November.
Crabiel reflected on 2004, mentioning the completion of a 180-bed facility at Roosevelt Care Center in Edison. A grand opening of that facility will be held Jan. 21. He also cited the opening last April of a new Vocational and Technical High School in Perth Amboy, and the progress made on the National Lead property in Sayreville. A December court ruling will allow the borough’s redevelopment agency to condemn the 400-plus-acre site along the Raritan River, with the county’s assistance.
“This is very good news for the borough of Sayreville,” Crabiel said, “and excellent news for the entire county. I predict that when that site is reclaimed for beneficial public use, that waterfront property will take its place as one of the real jewels of Middlesex County.”