$329M Morris County Budget Brings No Tax Hike to Residents

Despite a $12 million uptick for state and federal mandates, the Morris County budget won’t raise taxes on residents after a majority of the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the spending plan Wednesday.

The $329,400,000 budget comes with a tax need of $217,900,000, which includes a variety of capital improvement projects and more than $1 million in additional salaries to public employees due to labor agreements.

“This is a responsible budget that does not increase county taxes for our residents but, as importantly, is based on sound fiscal management that establishes the groundwork for responsible budgeting in future years, continuing to keep spending and taxes down, while ensuring that we maintain essential programs and services for our residents,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo in a statement.

Some bullet points from the spending plan include:

• $230,000 for County College of Morris to help offset a budget shortfall due to enrollment decline
• $900,000 increase for group insurance costs
• $1,200,000 in anticipated salary increases
• $1,300,000 for “more direct service staff in the Sheriff’s Office, Morris View Healthcare Center and Office of Temporary Assistance”
• $8,600,000 for county-maintained roads and $2.9 million for bridge projects

“While holding the line on taxes, the county still is maintaining all of our vital public safety services offered by the county Prosecutor and Sheriff, and is properly financing the needs of the Correctional Facility, Office of Emergency management, and the Public Safety Academy,’’ said Freeholder Douglas Cabana in a statement. Cabana, DeFillippo and Freeholder Tom Mastrangelo make up the governing body’s budget subcommittee.

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