Freeholders Defend Health Board Spending

Ocean County’s freeholders mounted a stout defense of spending by their appointed Board of Health last night, pointing to a 1.2 cent per $100 tax rate that has not risen in a decade.

 An anticipated showdown on the issue never materialized, as Democrat Michele Rosen of Waretown, who is trying to unseat Republican Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari never challenged the freeholders as they approved the $10.7 million in taxes needed by the Board of Health to support their $32.9 million budget.

Rosen urged the freeholders to send the tax resolution back to the with orders it include $11.8 million in capital funds in the budget.

Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. promised to look into the request, but told Rosen a week ago the budget as it stands.

The has already agreed with a suggestion by Sen. Robert Singer of Lakewood, one of its members, to include the capital funds in future budgets. The measure approved by the board and the tax resolution approved by the freeholders is for operating expenses of the health agency.

There was a feint by Rosen when she asked to have the tax resolution considered separately from other items on a consent agenda. But she said she expected an explanation from Bartlett on the decision to approve the tax request as submitted.

Freeholder Gerry P. Little said the amount of taxes being raised this year for the Health Department is down $600,000 from a year ago. Having the countywide agency saves municipal governments “millions of dollars each year. We’re very proud of that.’’

 The owner of a house worth $300,000 pays $36 a year for health services. “It’s a bargain,’’ he said.

“It’s an outstanding job,’’ agreed Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari.

 An entourage from the Board of Health was on hand at the freeholder session, but only Jack Mallon of Pine Beach, the board’s chairman, spoke, offering copies of a survey of services provided by the Health Department last year.

Included were inspections at restaurants, public bathing beaches, youth camps and campgrounds, landfills, tattoo parlors and dry cleaners, impounding 4,651 animals at the two animal shelters, managing the most TB cases ever, running clinics, courses for drunk drivers, and providing services to women, infants and children.