County budget adopted

FREEHOLD - Following a number of public hearings, the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders eliminated 18 vacant positions before adopting the county's 2007 spending plan. The vote was 3-2.

Voting to adopt the budget were freeholders William Barham, Lillian Burry and Robert Clifton. Freeholders Barbara McMorrow and Anna Little voted against the 2007 budget.

The $471,854,000 budget adopted March 8 limits the county tax levy increase to 2.9 percent, which means homeowners would pay an average of $41 more this year than they did last year in county taxes, according to information provided by the county's office of public information.

The proposed spending plan is up by $14,821,676, which is largely due to increases in fixed costs such as health expenses and pension obligations, according to the county. Of that amount, only $2 million is considered discretionary and includes funding for public safety and education.

Increases in the tax levy in other county budgets are as follows: Atlantic, 3.8 percent; Morris, 4.6 percent; Ocean, 4.7 percent; Sussex, 4.8 percent; Cape May, 6.7 percent; Warren; 6.8 percent; Gloucester, 8.0 percent, and Middlesex, 8.4 percent.

Monmouth County is one of just 17 counties in the entire United States that has earned an AAA bond rating from all three major rating agencies.

According to Finance Director Mark E. Acker, protecting the county's AAA bond rating is important because it determines the rate at which not only the county can borrow money, but also the municipalities that participate in the Monmouth County Improvement Authority to purchase such items as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks.

The amount to be raised by taxation is $286.5 million, which represents that 2.9 percent increase, according to the press release. It is the smallest percentage increase for any county budget in the last eight years.

Under the adopted 2007 budget, the county tax rate is 24.06 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, down from 26.61 cents last year, Acker said. The county tax rate would differ in each municipality because it is adjusted according to equalized values.

"We have crafted a budget that has minimal impact on taxes compared with other counties in the state without sacrificing the level of services for our residents," Freeholder Director William Barham said. "We continue to have the best park system, the best library system and the best community college and vocational schools."

Burry also said she looks forward to the work planned by a bipartisan budget review committee being assembled by McMorrow to continue examination of the budget and the costs of services the county provides.