Proposed 2020 Morris County Budget Comes Without Tax Increase

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morris County Freeholders Monday unveiled the county's proposed $315.8 million budget for the 2020 fiscal year, and it includes no increase for county taxpayers.

The budget, which the county is calling fiscally prudent, aims to fund public safety measures, veteran and social services programs, efforts to address the opioid epidemic, infrastructure improvements and more.

You can see the proposed 2020 budget for yourself here.

"We carefully reviewed all aspects of county operations to ensure that we run a modern, efficient and cost-effective county government, and also one that operates with an eye towards fiscal restraint," Freeholder Director and Budget Committee Chair Deborah Smith said in a statement. "This budget addresses and expands our financing of critical services while not increasing the county tax rate."

According to a press release from Morris County, some new and extended partnerships afforded in the budget include:

• Adding a fifth Basic Life Support EMS unit
• Increasing staffing for Morris County Veterans' Services Office
• Putting $200,000 toward mosquito control
• Rolling out STAR program to reduce criminal recidivism and improve safety
• Expand Human Services programs to address chronically mentally ill residents through a Safe Haven program
• Buying a new vehicle for the Sheriff's Hope One Program to fight the opioid epidemic
• Doubling child daycare services for at-risk families in the greater Morristown area
• Investing $150,000 in additional funding for economic development
• Putting $38.8 million in county funds to improve and maintain infrastructure, public safety, parks and education
• Putting $23 million toward roads, bridges, railroads and environmental cleanup.
• Allocating $9.3 million for upgrades to the County College of Morris and the Morris County School of Technology campus
• Providing $8.7 million for county facility projects and upgrades
• Providing $7.8 million for law enforcement
• Spending $2.4 million for Information Technology equipment upgrades and maintenance vehicles
• Putting $1.7 toward Park Commission improvements

Click here for a PowerPoint presentation describing the proposed operating and capital budgets.