For
Immediate Release:
April 8, 2019
County adopts $452.8 million budget for 2020
FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen
Freeholders has adopted the County’s $452.8 million budget for 2020. The budget,
introduced on March 12, was subsequently adopted at the live-streamed April 7 Freeholder
Meeting.
Before the budget was passed, the Freeholders elected to
roll back their proposed salary increase. The Freeholders’ salaries will now be
the same as they were in 2008. Further, the Freeholders declined to take health
benefits or mileage reimbursement for travel, as has been done by previous
Freeholder Boards, which results in thousands of dollars in savings.
“The Board continues to take a conservative approach to
budgeting in order to ensure that all County Departments and Divisions are
being fiscally responsible year round,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A.
Arnone. “It is important to note that Monmouth County continues to maintain the
AAA Bond Rating, the highest possible rating assigned by credit agencies, and is
dedicated to long-term financial planning to ensure future financial stability.”
The 2020 spending plan reflects operational savings of
approximately $4.5 million in health care costs, workers compensation, shared
service agreements for youth detention centers and lower pension costs. Over
the last 10 years the County’s budget has actually decreased by $40.6
million from $493.4 million in 2010 to $452.8 million in 2020.
The annual budget covers the cost of maintaining 1,000 lane miles
of roads, more than 900 bridges, 16,000 acres of County parks, emergency
management services, 911 emergency communications, law enforcement through the
Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s offices, elections, deed recording and passport
services in the County Clerk’s Office, probates and adoptions through the
Surrogate’s office as well as numerous additional programs and benefits.
Copies of the County budget are available on the Monmouth
County website at www.visitmonmouth.com.
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