Freeholders Approve Monmouth County Budget

The Asbury Park Press for March 25, 2011 reports that the Monmouth County Freeholders approved the budget and maintained a flat tax rate for residents by dipping into surplus funds.  Hopes are high that an economic revitalization will stabilize local funding sources.  Future budget plans will examine further options for cutting spending.

"Freeholders hold line on Monmouth County tax rate

Written by NINA RIZZO STAFF WRITER
11:38 PM, Mar. 24, 2011

SHREWSBURY — The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders adopted on Thursday a $491.5 million budget for 2011 that maintains a flat tax rate without sacrificing any county programs or services.  Craig Marshall, the county's chief financeofficer, said the final budget figure is $1.9 million, or 0.39 percent, lower than the2010 spending plan. The amount to be raised by taxation is $302,475,000, the same as last year's tax levy.  The board voted 4-1 to approve the budget, with Freeholder John P. Curley disapproving on the grounds that the board was relying too heavily on surplus funds to balance the budget.  "You do not balance budgets on nonrecurring funds without making corresponding cuts," he said.  Freeholder Director Robert Clifton acknowledged the board made a "risky move" by taking $43.8 million from the surplus account, but argued that the county's revenue forecast is looking brighter. Moreover, county residents who are struggling financially cannot endure a greater tax burden at this time.  "I felt trying to get the tax levy down was worth the risk," Clifton said.  The freeholders introduced a $496 million budget Feb. 24 that called for the elimination of 90 positions and a small tax hike. The board said back then it would continue to find additional savings to shave expenses wherever possible.  The board announced at a March 3 budget hearing that Sheriff Shaun Golden agreed to cut $3.7 million from his original budget.  And, at the afternoon workshop, Marshall said the freeholders decided to use more surplus funds and dig deeper into several areas to achieve a flat tax. Those areas are: $500,000 from the vocational school district (an equal amount of state aid had recently been restored); $230,000 from the mosquito commission; and $70,000 from the Superintendent of Election.  Marshall said the board took an additional $6,025,000 from surplus, bringing the total amount to be used at $43,863,000. That leaves approximately $34 million in the rainy day account."