With the adoption of the 2015 Monmouth County budget, property owners will pay a total of $4.53 million more in taxes to support the operation of the county.
During a meeting held on April 23 at Spring Lake Borough Hall, the Board of Freeholders adopted the budget in a 4-1 vote. Freeholders Lillian Burry, Thomas Arnone, Serena DiMaso and Gary Rich voted “yes.” Freeholder John Curley voted against the motion to adopt the spending plan.
The $488 million budget will be supported, in part, by the collection of $307 million in taxes from residential and commercial property owners in the county’s 53 municipalities.
The impact of the increase in the tax levy on a taxpayer will be determined by the assessed value of that individual’s property and the county tax rate for his municipality. Curley said the county’s delay in moving forward with the privatization of the Geraldine L. Thompson and John L. Montgomery care centers resulted in the county losing millions of dollars.
The county operates the care centers in Wall Township and Freehold, respectively, and after years of discussion the freeholders recently took action that is expected to result in the sale of the facilities to private operators.
“We should not raise taxes because that is not good for taxpayers. We did well with privatizing the care centers, but it is a little too late and not enough. We cannot live on a savings account and we should look at different areas to generate revenue,” Curley said.
He said officials should give more thought and consideration to residents who receive food stamps, to senior citizens, to veterans and to funding for Brookdale Community College when developing a budget. Burry said the budget does require closer examination.
“I am not totally happy with this budget and I believe some areas of it do have some flaws,” she said.
Officials said that until this year, the tax levy had remained flat since 2010.
According to a budget presentation, county taxes pay for the maintenance of 1,000 miles of county roads and 980 bridges and culverts.
County taxes also pay for 41 park, recreation and open space areas; five career academies; Brookdale Community College; aging, disability and veterans services; voter registration services and elections; public safety; a county library system; and a county health department.
The freeholders will use $40 million from surplus (savings) as revenue in the budget. State aid to the county will be $50.13 million and miscellaneous revenues will amount to $45.66 million in 2015.
Expenses in 2015 will include: general government, $8.5 million; insurance, $63.75 million; human services and health, $60.36 million; public safety functions, $13.38 million; public works functions, $12.52 million; education functions, $36.96 million; statutory expenditures, $36.12 million; capital improvements, $2.25 million; debt service, $54.65 million; and salaries and wages, $175.1 million.
Arnone said the county’s ability to maintain its AAA bond rating from all three major bond rating agencies is outstanding and a direct reflection of the finance department’s hard work.
“We have put a strategic plan together and have regenerated what we are bringing in. There will be a bit of a struggle, but this county is moving forward in the right direction and we are the only one in the state with an AAA rating from all three agencies, which is something to be extremely proud of,” Arnone said.
The county’s workforce for 2015 stands at 3,131 positions, including 2,841 full-time employees, 118 part-time employees and 172 seasonal employees. For comparison purposes, in 2008 the county employed 3,781 individuals.
County taxes are one portion of a property owner’s tax bill, which also includes municipal taxes, school taxes and other assessments.