County Directed Not to Adopt 2013 Budget; Plans to Fight Flood Insurance Rates, Maps

CREST HAVEN – For the first time, Cape May County was not allowed, by gubernatorial edict, to adopt its $138.3-million budget due to uncertainty of funding at the state level.
“This is the first time that I remember that we have been instructed not to adopt our budget,” said Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton at the conclusion of the Feb. 26 regular meeting and budget hearing. There were no public comments or question regarding the spending plan at the meeting.
Thornton said he was “waiting for the governor to make his speech” yet at 5 p.m., when the meeting was adjourned, no word had been received from Trenton regarding the budget.
He noted there might be “some significant changes with some appropriations” that could affect the budget.
“I don’t know for sure what the state is going to do or how to handle this. We will delay the adoption of our budget until we have more solid information,” Thornton said.
Most in the meeting were department heads, present in the event they were called upon by a member of the public regarding any of their departmental expenditures.
The board set March 12 at 7 p.m., it’s next regular meeting, as the date when it would adopt the budget.
SEE GOV. CHRISTIE GIVING HIS SPEECH in attached video provided by the Governor’s Office
Also at the meeting, freeholders adopted a resolution, which they hope will gain widespread support regarding the federal flood insurance flood elevation maps and federal flood insurance premiums that, they believe, will have a severe economic impact on the county and state.
Meetings were held Feb. 8 with all county mayors, and on Feb. 25, with South Jersey Freeholders Association regarding the impact those flood insurance rates might have on the people who, for example, might be faced with $11,000 flood insurance premiums or higher.
Thornton opined the new flood elevations and flood insurance premiums “Will be extremely damaging to Cape May County’s economy. It could be absolutely devastating. I can’t imagine how the Senate and House of Representatives in Washington could pass this legislation, which impacts every coast state from Maine to Washington, plus all the areas of the Mississippi and Great Lakes, that will have such a devastating impact.
“It will have a major impact on the state and especially Cape May County, We are trying to fight this battle. We are going to fight the battle, but it’s really an uphill battle, a big time uphill battle,” Thornton said.
A copy of the resolution will be transmitted to all counties in an attempt to enlist support to change the elevation maps, and reduce the flood insurance rates.