Hunterdon County budget reduces county tax rate to 2015 level
Tax Rate Cut Follows Rate Freeze For Five Years County Is Also Debt Free For 10th Straight Year
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Following a freeze in the county tax rate every year since 2018, the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unveiled a FY24 budget that will reduce the county tax rate to the 2015 level and continues to keep the County debt free for the 10th straight year.
Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren, and budget co-liaison said, “The FY24 county budget that reduces the tax rate to the 2015 level is not something that just happens by chance, but rather is the result of a detailed budget review process, where we go line-by-line through expenses, to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely and sparingly.”
The county tax rate will reduce from .315 per $100 of assessed property value to .309, under the total budget amount for 2024, that was introduced at the meeting in the amount of $112,069,887.
“Additionally, the FY24 budget also includes funding for two major priorities outlined by Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl for 2024; a $1 million grant fund to support municipal infrastructure improvements and a $1 million grant fund to support the refurbishment of municipal parks. The 2024 county budget leverages New Jersey Department of Transportation grant dollars by making matching investments in county infrastructure including bridges and roadway resurfacing. Additional infrastructure projects included in this budget document include repairs and upgrades to numerous culverts across the county and targeted improvements to county facilities,” Van Doren said.
Deputy Director Susan Soloway said, “Freezing the county tax rate for the past five years was quite an accomplishment, but this year has exceeded that achievement by putting forth a budget document that reduces the county tax rate to that of 2015. This year’s budget is once again a demonstration of this Board’s ongoing commitment to fiscal discipline and putting our taxpayers first. And as inflation continues to hit homeowners and families hard, with rising costs all around, at the pump, at the grocery store, even at McDonald’s, a reduction in the tax rate is sure to be welcomed.”
“The budget continues to make investments in public health and safety through a combination of state grants and county matching dollars for expanded clinical services for seniors, veterans, and the underinsured, along with the implementation of ‘Next Generation 9-1-1’ in Hunterdon County,” Van Doren said.
In addition, the FY24 budget continues to follow the Commissioner Board’s ongoing strategy of pay-as-you-go capital spending and keeps Hunterdon County debt free for the 10th consecutive year.
“I would like to thank my budget co-liaison, Commissioner John Lanza, for his support and involvement in the budget preparation; along with the entire budget committee for their collective work, County CFO Andrew Bernath, Deputy CFO Mike Franchini, County Administrator Brad Myhre, Deputy County Administrator Shana Taylor, and County Counsel Katrina Campbell,” Van Dore said.
