ICYMI: Somerset County Freeholders Approve 2015 Budget

The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a budget for 2015 that keeps operational spending under 2008 levels.

The 2015 budget, totaling $231,664,133, was adopted following a public hearing on May 26. The general operating budget for Somerset County is slightly higher than $149 million, which is $1 million less than the general operating budget in 2008, according to Somerset County officials.

Since 2008, the county’s operating cost has decreased by 5.69 percent due to reductions in spending and employees. The number of county employees has decreased from 1,329 to 1,207, a decrease of 9 percent, and Somerset County’s capital expenditures decreased by more than 72 percent.

“We’ve continued to streamline our operations so we can provide essential services to residents while maintaining Somerset County’s triple-A bond rating,” Freeholder Director Mark Caliguire said in a release from the county. “We’ve also kept the increase in our inside-cap costs to 1.39 percent, well within the 2-percent state cap. Our fiscally prudent management of county resources continues to be a hallmark of Somerset County government.”

According to Somerset County, the 2015 budget provides for the following:

• maintains 248 center-lane miles of county roads and 752 county-owned bridges
• maintains 38 park, recreation and open-space areas encompassing 15,000 acres
• fully funds 911 communications dispatch for 20 municipalities
• funds nearly 200 shared services with local governments and other organizations in the county
• increases capital funding for added road work due to the recent harsh winter
• provides just under $1.5 million in special emergency funding for recovery from the 2010 nor’easter, Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012
• funds partial budgets for the county Vocational-Technical Schools, Raritan Valley Community College, Board of Social Services and Park Commission
• fully funds the county jail and the county fire academy

For more information or to read the entire 2015 budget adopted by Somerset County, visit the Somerset County website. Or visit the website to view an overview of the 2015 budget.