Morris County Freeholders Public 2017 County Budget Session on Monday (Jan. 30)

Published on January 27, 2017

RESIDENTS AND OFFICIALS FROM ALL 39 MORRIS COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES INVITED

(, 0B) The Morris County Board of Freeholders will hold a special 2017 public county budget meeting on Monday, (Jan. 30) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the county government complex in Morristown.

The session is designed to let county residents and mayors and other public officials from all 39 Morris County municipalities have a say in the budget-making process, to state concerns, make recommendations, and ask questions of the freeholders' budget subcommittee, and its financial and senior staff.

Key budget documents and financial information, including the 2015 and 2016 operating and capital budgets, can be reviewed online. Also, view an easy comparison of 2015 and 2016 adopted county budgets(, 0B).

Freeholders Christine Myers, Kathy DeFillippo, and Deborah Smith, who comprise the subcommittee, will be joined by the county's professional staff at the session.

(, 0B) Freeholder Christine Myers

We want to ensure that mayors, other elected officials, and county residents have an opportunity to comment on budget issues, to provide insight into how we develop the budget, and our timeline for introduction,'' said Freeholder Myers, who chairs the subcommittee. We invite interested officials and residents to attend,'' she added.

The freeholders in 2016 adopted a $337 million budget, with a total 2.39 percent county tax levy increase, which was the first county tax rise since 2012.

The freeholders will provide key information regarding the draft 2017 budget prior to the Jan. 30 meeting, and will have information available at the session, as well.

There are a host of "known'' factors that will impact the county's 2017 budget process:

  • Contractual Salary Increases €“ 2 percent
  • Health Care Insurance Premiums Increase €“ 12.5 percent
    • The State Health Benefit Plan from 2010 to 2016 has averaged an increase of 10.57 percent
    • The County Health Insurance Budget from 2010 to 2016 averaged an increase of 4.88 percent
  • Liability and Workers Comp Premiums Increase €“ 3 percent
  • Pension Increase per 2017 Estimated Bills - $637,707
  • Increase in State Assumption of Psychiatric Costs at 100 percent of $2,022,084
  • Does not include any additional staff for bail reform
  • Does not include any additional staff for Emergency Medical Services Program

The special budget meeting will be held in the freeholders 5th floor public meeting room at the Morris County Administration and Records Building, 10 Court Street, Morristown, N.J. 07963. Residents should be aware they must go through a first floor security screening process.

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