The Monmouth County Budget Review Committee is back in business. According to a press release from the county, the bipartisan task force has been meeting to address this year’s budget issues, but will also review suggestions for budget cuts that were submitted by the leaders of the 23 unions that represent about two-thirds of the county’s workforce.
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow invited the unions to submit recommendations for budget cuts in order to minimize the need for layoffs or wage freezes and continue providing services.
“This is a very difficult budget year, not only for Monmouth County but for everyone,” McMorrow said. “Because of their extensive work in 2007, the volunteers who serve on the Budget Review Committee are well equipped to examine the county’s budget this year. One of their tasks will be to sort through the many suggestions from our employees to see which ones will work.”
“The current financial crisis is affecting us all,” said Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, liaison to the Finance Department. “I am pleased that the Budget Review Committee is working on the budget again, and I am confident that if we all pitch in we can come out of this crisis on a firm financial footing.”
The committee is chaired by Glenn Cashion of Middletown, a retired managing director of AT&T.
The remaining four appointees include: Ann McNamara, the former mayor of Tinton Falls; Vincent Domidion, a financial investor of Colts Neck; Joseph M. Annecharico, chief financial officer of Holmdel; and Richard Gatto of Freehold Township. Gatto is a certified public accountant.
“I am going to ask them for their expertise and expert opinions as we move forward with this year’s budget,” McMorrow said. “We are also meeting with various employee groups because they are also offering insights how we can reduce costs and still provide services. Plus, we will have numerous public hearings. It behooves us to listen to everyone to see what we can do to save taxpayer dollars.”
The 2009 county budget will be introduced on Feb. 12. Public hearings have been scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Monmouth County Library Headquarters on Symmes Drive in Manalapan, and for 7 p.m. March 5 in the library’s Eastern Branch on Route 35 in Shrewsbury.
A final public hearing and adoption of the budget is scheduled for March 12 in the Hall of Records, Freehold.