Hunterdon County's No Debt Capital Plan

Roads, Bridges, Public Safety Addressed

In County’s No Debt Capital Plan

The Hunterdon County Freeholder Board, at the June 19th meeting, gave approval to a $14 million ‘pay as you go’ capital improvement plan for roads, bridges and public safety that, for the fourth year in a row, results in no County debt.

Freeholder Shaun Van Doren, the Board’s liaison for the Department of Engineering and Public Works, stated, “The two most significant items in the capital plan (bond ordinance 2018-01) are $6.575 million for road resurfacing and reconstruction and $5.375 million for bridge restoration and replacement projects. Both are of extreme importance in maintaining safety for those using the roadways and our quality of life in Hunterdon County.”

The approved capital plan contains funding for eight bridge projects, plus funding for replacement of various stone arches, in addition to road improvements and equipment purchases. A copy of the ordinance is available at the following web address: http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/press/2018/06-19FINANCE-ADOPTIONBondOrd.2018-01.pdf (copy and paste into your web browser).

Freeholder Van Doren added, “Bridge maintenance is an appropriate and necessary role for County government. And it is vital, as motorists trust the government to ensure bridge safety.

Thanks to this bridge capital funding year after year, and the work of the Department of Engineering and Public Works, residents and visitors can have a high degree of confidence that when passing over the smallest culvert or the largest river span, the County bridges are safe.”

Freeholder John E. Lanza, the Board’s liaison for the Department of Public Safety, noted, “This capital plan also provides necessary funding for technology upgrades and radio consoles for the county wide 9-1-1 communications center, which is a county service that time and again has proven to be a lifesaving operation.

The Freeholder Board, at the July 17th meeting, approved no debt capital ordinance 2018-02 for $1.5 million that provides funding for public safety and other equipment. It can be viewed at the following web address: http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/press/2018/July17FINANCE-ADOPTIONCapitalOrd.2018-02A.pdf (copy and paste into your web browser).

Freeholder Lanza stated, “Ordinance 2018-02 provides for equipment for emergency services training for our volunteer firefighters and first responders, whom we all greatly rely upon to respond to emergencies and protect our community.”

“Most importantly,” Lanza said, “the County has not entered into any debt in the four years since interest and debt payments were eliminated from the County budget in 2014. In the four years following that achievement, the County has successfully maintained a Pay-As-You Go plan---a remarkable record of fiscal prudence on the behalf of the taxpayers.”