Hunterdon County budget reduces tax rate to lowest level in 11 years
County Is Also Debt Free For 11 th Straight Year
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Following last year’s tax rate cut, the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners unveiled their FY25 budget at the April 1st Board Meeting, which will reduce the county tax rate to its lowest level in 11 years and maintain a debt-free status for the 11th consecutive year.
Commissioner Director John E. Lanza expressed pride in the budget, stating, “This year’s budget is something that we can all take great pride in. The budget as proposed not only reduces the county tax rate to the lowest level in 11 years, but also makes investments in improving county infrastructure, advances career and technical education opportunities, and continues to build upon the ‘New Era of Partnership’ with all of our 26 municipalities.”
Under the $122,512,539 budget introduced at the meeting, the county tax rate will be reduced from $0.309 per $100 of assessed property value to $0.306.
County Commissioner and budget co-liaison Shaun C. Van Doren emphasized that the tax rate cut was the result of careful fiscal management: “Cutting the county tax rate to the lowest level in 11 years doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s 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 FY25 budget includes funding for two key priorities outlined by the Commissioner Board:
- A $1 million grant fund to support the refurbishment of municipal parks.
- A $500,000 grant program to support municipal law enforcement entities, a measure Director Lanza called for at the annual reorganization meeting of the Hunterdon County Commissioner Board.
Fellow budget co-liaison and County Commissioner Zach Rich highlighted the historic investment in career and technical education within the FY25 budget. “This year’s budget makes a record investment in career and technical education, which is important to keep Hunterdon County economically competitive in the future.”
Commissioner Rich also noted that the budget includes additional funding to eliminate a proposed 3.5% tuition increase at the county’s regional high schools, which send students to programs offered at Hunterdon County Polytech.
Commissioner Jeff Kuhl commended Commissioner Director Lanza for continuing the “New Era of Partnership,” which Kuhl initiated during his tenure as Board Director. This initiative includes direct grant programs to Hunterdon County’s 26 municipalities for local playground improvements and municipal infrastructure upgrades. “Beyond improving local facilities, these direct grants also help to control local property taxes,” Kuhl said.
Commissioner Susan Soloway praised Deputy Director Van Doren and Commissioner Rich for their work on the FY25 budget, adding, “To those present in the audience today, this is why the combination of strong fiscal oversight, continued innovation in government, and the commitment of our county department leaders in the budget process matters.”
Soloway also emphasized that, “Working together, Hunterdon County is setting an example for others of what good governance and strong fiscal policy look like.”
Commissioner Director Lanza thanked Deputy Director Van Doren, Commissioner Rich, and the county’s fiscal team, including CFO Andrew Bernath, Deputy CFO Mike Franchini, County Administrator Brad Myhre, Deputy Administrator Shana Taylor, County Counsel Katrina Doyle, and HR Director Meagan O’Reilly for their contributions to preparing the FY25 budget.
