Ocean County freeholders said maintaining the county's core services while keeping taxes down will be an ongoing process, with 2013 budget work already under way as the 2012 financial framework is adopted.
The board unanimously approved its $354,189,256 2012 budget at its regular meeting Wednesday in the , Toms River. Freeholders pledged to provide the services county citizens need, especially in tough economic times, but said they will be forced to do "less with less" in the future as revenues decline and ratables disappear.
"Today is not the end of the discussion," said Freeholder John Bartlett, liaison to the Department of Finance. "It's really the beginning of the discussion because we will be in the process continually this year of refocusing county government toward its core functions."
To support the budget Ocean County will raise a $300,026,643 tax levy, up $6,747,893 over the 2011 spending plan, with a tax rate of 29.9 cents per $100 in equalized value, a 1.7-cent hike over the 2011 budget. Federal and state aid of almost $7.5 million, $29.7 million in miscellaneous revenues and $17 million in surplus will balance the books for the 2012 budget.
Although there is almost no spending increases in the adopted budget, freeholders were forced to increase the tax levy primarily due to two factors: revenues declined by more than $5 million from 2011 and the county's ratable base keeps shrinking, down by almost $4 billion from 2011.
Year Ratable Valuation Tax Rate Amount to be Raised by Taxation 2008 $108,897,663,942 25.4 cents per $100 $276,305,117 2009 $109,906,985,727 25.5 cents per $100 $278,876,987 2010 $105,510,706,298 27.2 cents per $100 $287,002,464 2011 $104,334,745,378 28.1 cents per $100 $293,278,750 2012 (estimated) $100,177,834,492 $29.9 cents per 100 $300,026,643"We used to say we're doing more with less but I'm afraid we have to say we're going to do less with less because we are darn near the bottom of the barrel," Bartlett said.
Spending across departments is largely flat over the 2011 plan, with increases to the Board of Social Services and law enforcement, as the expansion of the Ocean County Jail has necessitated 44 hires over the past two years. The overall spending plan totals $1.4 million above the $352.7 million 2011 budget, which raised $293.3 million via taxation.
Freeholder Director Gerry Little said the county will continue it's policy of shedding salaries via attrition, with departing or retiring staffers only replaced where there's a "vital need." The county is down almost 200 jobs in the past three years, with $360,000 saved from the 2011 budget by not replacing 56 staffers who departed.
"We will gradually reduce the scope of county government to reflect the financial reality of diminished financial resources. Our changes will be small, they will be predictable but... there will be no surprises," Bartlett said.
Freeholder Joseph Vicari said budgeting is an "ongoing process" that is especially difficult in "troubled times.
"We have a responsibility to maintain these programs," Vicari said. With Wednesday's adoption, he can look people in the eye and say "this is a good budget."
Gary Black, a resident of Jackson, agreed. "You guys got it right," he said. "This is a surprise; it's government doing what it's supposed to do."
The Freeholders in Ocean County are an anomaly, they actually give the county a ton of services and govern well while actually keeping the tax rate pretty stable. No where else will you see this in NJ or any other state. While other Republican county and local administrations, and Dem ones, can't get their acts together no matter what, these guys actually do a great job.
Yawn, same old spin. How come my taxes go up every single year? What is up with the Republicans in Ocean County? They all love to RAISE TAXES every chance they get!!! These tax and spend politicians have to be voted out.
If they spent money more wisely to begin with, rateables wouldn't be declining and revenue would be coming in. Morons. They should be thinking about how to keep more businesses from being boarded up and closing down instead. Do they even drive around town and see what's going on? Has anyone noticed all the boarded up and empty stores for YEARS along Rt 37? And they wonder why rateables are down. They increased the tax value of property what? Two / three years ago and it's all sinking like a rock now. I don't pretend to understand all this tax math, but when you raise the tax value of my home, then raise the taxes of my home because it's rated higher, THEN tell me that they're raising taxes again because the rates are dropping, I just get angry. Businesses or private property, it's the same sleight of hand with my money and anyone who owns property of any sort in NJ is only getting screwed. I can't wait for this economy to turn around. When it does, I'm on the first migration out of this hell hole.
I grew up in NYC and lived there the majority of my life. I paid LESS in taxes and got MORE for my money. This place is nothing but a scam.
Hey Concerned, Said that already on..... 8:52 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012 "56 positions via attrition for a savings of $358,102. I am reading this right? "56 positions" jobs right?... $6395.00 each?" .......but that's good, we agree and we must be right! Interesting, no one replied to our statements?
are you one of the Freeholders or an employee of the county? We all know they are a bunch of crooks and cronies stealing our money. I dont think we get that great of services with a over bloated government that needs to cut just like every household has had to cut during the great recession. The only increase I would allow is to social services because so many people are out of work and suffering the rest should be cut, cut cut.... like any business with declining revenues. Government does not live in the real world and get's away with because it can. If salaries have to be cut so be it... its better to have a job then no job. Who is looking after the taxpayer? NO ONE!!!!
With that said, the fact is we don't own county workers healthcare and retirement that have little or no co-pay, and we don’t owe their loser brother-in law or cousin or whatever, who couldn't get a job anywhere else a living. So, with all due respect, find a way to lower the taxes or we'll vote you out of office and find someone who will. Thank you
My name is Scott Neuman and I'll be running for Board of Chosen Freeholders in November as an Independent.
calendar months. taking trucks for coffe and lunch. the sigin shop workers are sent out with the work orders that are incomplet or have been done the on other days. In Nov the sigin crew paint crew were sent to the new shop right to do work on the private job site for the onwer of shop rite to get the store open. workers were told" this is a favor to the contractor fom the County Enginering??? that cost the taxpayer 5k in time nice favor??? someone should look in to this! this was hidden from the Freeholders! in the signal shop the supervisor in charge is the father of the Assistant's supervisor {father and son} working together??? i think there is a law that stops this ??? so this lends to the missconduct that goes on in the Enginering dept ! this is were your tax dollars are going down the drain!
you should be asking about the favor the County Enginer gave the contractor and owner of the new shop rite in toms river! that cost the taxpayer 5k in time "labor"nice favor. The Freeholders should be asking Questions as to how this favor happend!
You as a taxpayer should be trying to figure out why the taxpyer footed the bill on the shop rite job. this was a nice favor the county Enginering dept gave to the onwer and contractor??? the Freeholders should be asking why 11 county workers were on a private job site? on a state road (RT 9)???? nice favor the county engeriner gave to someone! With taxpayer money!