The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has introduced a $453 million budget to fund the operation of the county in 2021.
The budget was introduced during a meeting on Feb. 11. Commissioners Ross Licitra, Nick DiRocco, Lillian Burry, Deputy Director Susan Kiley and Director Thomas Arnone voted “yes” on a motion to introduce the budget.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Freehold Borough, at 2 p.m. March 11. At that time, comments on the budget may be presented by taxpayers or other interested persons.
Officials said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, county buildings are not open to the public. The March 11 meeting will be available via a Facebook live-stream. A link to the meeting will be available at www.facebook.com/MonmouthGoyNd
As a result of the national and state declarations of emergency, members of the public are requested to participate remotely.
Monmouth County Director of Finance Craig R. Marshall provided a synopsis of the 2021 county budget revenues and appropriations during a workshop meeting that preceded the commissioners’ regular meeting on the afternoon of Feb. 11.
One significant item of interest to property owners is that the county tax levy is increasing by $6.1 million, from $311.5 million in 2020 to $317.6 million in 2021. The county tax levy is paid by residential and commercial property owners to help support the operation of the county.
Marshall showed the following revenues for 2021: surplus anticipated, $33.5 million; miscellaneous revenues, $101.9 million; and amount to be raised by taxation, $317.6 million. The total revenues equal $453 million.
Marshall showed the following appropriations for 2021: general government, $30.28 million; land use administration, $1.31 million; code enforcement and administration, $326,319; insurance, $53.49 million; public safety, $103.55 million; public works, $36.09 million; human services and health, $41,92 million; parks and recreation, $21.95 million; education, $38.77 million; other common operating functions, $779,875; utility expenses and bulk purchases, $9.3 million; contingent, $160,000; statutory expenditures, $43.6 million; federal and state grants, $9.57 million; capital improvements, $550,000; and debt service, $61.36 million. The total appropriations equal $453 million.
The impact of the 2021 county budget on a property owner’s tax bill will not be known until a county tax rate for each of the county’s 53 municipalities is determined. The county taxes that a property owner pays will be determined by the county tax rate that is established for his municipality and the assessed value of his property.
County taxes are one item on a property owner’s overall tax bill, which also includes municipal taxes, school taxes and other assessments.
In 2018, the county budget totaled $447.95 million. Residential and commercial property owners paid $304 million in taxes to support the budget.
In 2019, the county budget totaled $449.6 million. Residential and commercial property owners paid $305.5 million in taxes to support the budget.
In 2020, the county budget totaled $452.8 million. Residential and commercial property owners paid $311.5 million in taxes to support the budget.
In 2021, the county budget totals $453 million. Residential and commercial property owners will pay $317.6 million in taxes to support the budget.
Monmouth County’s budget covers the cost of providing maintenance for 1,000 lane miles of roads, more than 900 bridges, 17,000 acres of county parks, emergency management, 911 communications, law enforcement through the prosecutor’s office and the sheriff’s office, elections, deed recording and passport services in the county clerk’s office, probate and adoptions through the surrogate’s office, and more, according to county officials.