Politics & Government
No Increase to Proposed County Health Tax
1.2 cents per $100; May 4 is hearing on county health department
There will be no increase in the 1.2 cent per $100 Ocean County health tax, if a budget unveiled Wednesday is approved following a May 4 public hearing.
That translates into a $36 annual health tax bill for the owner of a home worth $300,000.
The county Board of Health voted to introduce the $26 million spending package that is up $485,279 from a year ago. Taxpayers in the communities covered by the county board are asked for $10.7 million to support the budget. It also uses $7.3 million in surplus and anticipates $6 million in public health nursing revenue. Permits and fees are expected to generate $650,00, and cash receipts and other revenue $901,367. The freeholders will provide $344,613 to support the budget, the same as last year, but down more than $1 million from 2008.
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The Health Department also anticipates receiving $6.9 million in state and federal grants, bringing the total budget to $32.9 million, according to Virginia Miragliotta, the department’s Director of Administration and Program Development.
She said the is “stable for the fourth year in a row. We’ll continue all our programs. Raises are fully funded.’’
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“In these tough economic times our services are more pressed. We’ve expanded them to meet the demand,’’ said state Sen. Robert Singer, a member of the board.
Miragliotta said the spending package is under the 2 percent state budget cap. Insurance and benefit costs are up $510,099 to $6.8 million, accounting for the largest increase in the budget, followed by a $396,500 increase for programming and computer support to $690,000.
Salaries and wages are down $33,000 to $9.4 million. The board approved a new contract with its Communications Workers of America local Wednesday. Miragliotta said it calls for a 1.9 percent wage hike, an end to longevity bonuses for workers, and bigger employee contributions toward health care insurance. Eliminated in the budget is $14,600 once paid as attendance bonuses for department employees.
A public hearing on the budget is set for 9:45 a.m. May 4 at the Health Department headquarters on Sunset Avenue in Toms River.
