Monmouth tax levy will stay at $286M FREEHOLD - The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders adopted its 2008 budget on March 6 that imposes no new taxes while maintaining county services. Noting that a reduced state budget would mean less in property tax rebates, municipal aid and school funding, the freeholders decided that now is not the time to impose an additional tax burden on Monmouth County residents. Therefore, there will be no increase in county taxes this year, according to a press release from the freeholders. "By bringing in a budget without a tax increase we have created for ourselves and the people of Monmouth County a window of opportunity through which we may look toward a new and brighter future," Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said. "But this is not a time for resting on our laurels. What begins now is a year of careful oversight and rigorous management that will ultimately be the measure of the success of this budget. I feel we should all be proud of it." The zero tax increase was achieved by cutting an additional $8 million in spending from the budget. The savings will be realized by reducing costs for disability insurance, Social Security, and a decrease in debt service due to a refunding bond sale. Also, the freeholders have agreed to apply unexpended balances from existing bonds for new capital projects to offset the need to raise taxes. The total budget is $481,114,000, which represents less than a 2 percent increase. The amount to be raised by taxation is $286,504,000, which is the same as 2007. This is the third year in a row Monmouth County freeholders have crafted a budget that holds the tax levy to below the rate of inflation, according to the press release. When the freeholders began their budget deliberations in December, they were looking at a $13.2 million increase in the tax levy. That figure was reduced to $8 million, or 2.8 percent over the 2007 tax levy, for the budget's introduction in January. "Monmouth County is 'The Place You Want to Be,' " said Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, referring to the county's slogan. "We also want to make sure it is also the place you can afford to live." According to the press release, Finance Director Mark E. Acker has identified pension increases and utility costs as being largely responsible for the increase in the budget this year, but he said the cuts the freeholders made do not represent a one-time event. "Next year, the budget will stand on its own," Acker said. Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, who oversees the Finance Department and chaired the budget meetings, criticized what he called the state's mismanagement of the pension system, which is causing mandatory annual pension payments throughout local government to increase by 50 to 100 percent a year. These are to cover a shortfall incurred when the state declared a pension "holiday" and deferred payments. "Monmouth County residents are fed up with high state taxes," Clifton said. "In view of the state's proposed cuts, many of which simply shift the tax burden to local government, we felt it was incumbent upon us to deliver real tax relief now. This budget stabilizes county taxes and maintains our high level of services, and we were able to do it without creating new debt." Freeholder William C. Barham noted that in today's economy people are having a tougher time making ends meet. "The word recession is being bantered about and people are struggling, but I am glad that we were able to do our part," he said. Freeholder John D'Amico, who participated in the March 6 budget vote via telephone, cited the county's implementation of the recommendations contained in the Budget Review Committee report - particularly the planned information technology (IT) audit and formulation of a strategic plan - as necessary in order to pinpoint places where structural changes can be made. "This budget stabilizes the situation, but we need to work harder next year," he said. Burry also highlighted the IT audit and the formulation of a strategic plan as methods of revealing new possibilities for expanded productivity and reductions in costs and staffing needs, as well as enhanced public access to government. "It is my commitment to work cooperatively with my fellow freeholders to make this a year of institutional self-examination, rededication to vital missions, and overall steady progress for the people of Monmouth County," she said. "This budget is the foundation on which these efforts will stand."