Co. Introduces $152.6-Million Budget

CREST HAVEN – Federal taxes dip, but the county tax rate will rise; that’s if the $152.6-million budget is adopted by freeholders Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m. after a public hearing.  
The budget is up 4 percent over the 2017 budget, but, according to Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, the spending plan is still below the state-mandated 2 percent cap. In 2017, the budget was $146.3 million.
The increase will enable the county to maintain needed services and prepare for “substantial capital projects for improvements in county infrastructure,” according to the message Thornton read Jan. 23 as the document was introduced.
County revenue is up, the levy raised for the budget will be $112 million. The tax rate which is projected to be $.2247, is an increase of 6/10 of a cent. That compares to the 2017 rate of $.219.
A surplus of $11 million was generated which pushed the total surplus to $20 million. That was a first for many years, according to the message.
Of that surplus, $10.3 million was applied, which is standard county policy.
One of the larger projects funded by the budget is the renovation of the Superior Courthouse to provide for an extended drug court. Other expenses include staffing and training at the County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Department of Social Services is at the end stages of being reorganized to assist those in need.
The new correctional center is scheduled to be completed by year-end. The facility is to operate under the model of “direct supervision” with one officer assigned to a housing unit containing 64 inmates.
Central dispatch and communications will shift to the Lower Township Public Safety Building where the program, overseen by the Office of Emergency Management, is nearing completion. 
The county anticipates $165,000 from Lower Township as repayment of debt service on the building as well as $600,000 from that municipality for its consolidated dispatch service with the county.
Other expected revenue includes $400,000 for interlocal fees for the Animal Shelter and $375,000 for County Park concessions.
The budget includes health benefit payments for existing employees and retirees. The cost of these benefits is estimated to be $25.35 million. New legislation requires a 1.5 percent contribution of salary by employees or a percentage contribution of the premium, whichever is more.
The county is projecting this contribution amount to be $2.7 million from the employees and $350,000 from grants for 2018. The net amount of $22.3 million is budgeted for health benefits.
To support the Atlantic Cape Community College, the county will pay $2.43 million as chargebacks for students attending classes.
The county’s debt service is slightly over $11 million.