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Freeholders Introduce 2019 County Budget
March 28, 2019
Newton, NJ – The Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders last night unanimously introduced the County's 2019 budget, which will slightly increase the average tax levy for county residents while maintaining social services, public safety, educational opportunities, and the County's roads, bridges, and facilities infrastructure.
Sussex County homeowners will pay an average of just $22 more annually, or $1.83 each month, in county taxes this year to fund services and programs provided by Sussex County government through the $112.05 million 2019 budget introduced by the Board of Freeholders last night.
The tax dollars in the proposed operating budget incorporate a number of public safety and social services initiatives, to be offered in many cases with the County's not-for-profit providers who deal with mental health, substance abuse, emergency services, and programs for our most vulnerable residents.
The budget positions the County to address a number of issues facing its 24 municipalities, constitutional offices, not-for-profit organizations, and other stakeholders. It also addresses the need to invest in the County's road and bridge infrastructure, technology, law enforcement, public safety and educational opportunities that contribute to the County's quality of life.
Some new and expanded programs include:
- Allocate funds in support of the privatization of the long line & pavement marking program;
- Work towards the national accreditation of Division of Health (anticipated in 2020);
- Fund safety consultant to update the County's road safety policies and procedures; and
- Provide funds for vehicle purchases within the offices of Fleet Management and Sheriff
The 2019 budget authorizes $13.3 million to invest in the County's infrastructure, including road resurfacing, guiderail maintenance, mandated site remediation, Community College building improvements and pavement resurfacing, facility security, and Technical School improvements. The County leverages its capital investment with Federal and State grants totaling more than $530 thousand.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders will consider adoption of its operating budget at the Wednesday, April 24 evening meeting in Newton.
You can view the County's 2019 proposed budget and presentation at www.sussex.nj.us.