Warren County Commissioners approve budget; tax rate drops

WARREN COUNTY, NJ – The Warren County Board of County Commissioners adopted a $108.5 million budget that funds upgrades to the 911 communications system as well as road and drainage improvements while reducing the equalized tax rate for residents for the third year in a row.

“The 2024 budget not only addresses this year’s issues but sets us up for stability in future budgets,” Commissioner Director James R. Kern III said. “After years of fiscal responsibility, Warren County will be debt-free in 2025. As we head into Warren County’s bicentennial, we can be proud of the County’s strong financial health,” Kern added.

Due to an increase in taxable property and careful fiscal planning, the equalized tax rate – which is calculated by the Warren County Board of Taxation – will decrease by more than 2 cents per $100 of property this year, to 54.6 cents from 56.7 cents. This follows a reduction of 4.5 cents last year.

“Just as inflation has hit hard at everyone’s household budget, higher costs for goods and services have created a difficult environment for all levels of government,” Kern said. “The Warren County Board of County Commissioners responded to those challenges.”

The Commissioners unanimously approved the 2024 budget, the $11.4 million capital ordinance, and the $6.2 million budget for the county library system, which has its own tax rate that will decrease to 4.4 cents per $100 of property from 4.5 cents.

Supply chain issues and price increases continue to affect the County budget, with a $575,000 increase in medical costs and $200,000 more in meal costs at the county Correctional Center; and a $250,000 increase in the liability and workers compensation insurance package.

“There’s still a lot of hard choices, but we’re doing really good work, there’s really a lot of positivity in these budgets,” said Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski. “We’re cutting the rate. We’re providing the same amount of services and people are paying less taxes” if their home value remained the same, Sarnoski noted.

“The fiscal responsibility of our previous freeholders/commissioners and the fiscal responsibility of our current Board of County Commissioners has put us in a position to once again issue a budget that does not hurt the taxpayers while also giving us the ability to work on much needed projects, such as the emergency communications upgrades,” Commissioner Lori Ciesla said.

“Inflation continues to be an issue everywhere, but thankfully we are able to deal with that without impacting our residents. I thank all of our department heads, our administrator and our CFO for providing us a sensible budget yet again,” Ciesla said.

The 2024 spending plan authorizes $3.3 million in new funding for upgrading the 911 tower system, which combined with funding authorized previously will provide more than $5.2 million for the 911 communications system upgrade.

Several local police representatives attended the budget hearing in support of the upgrade.

“This new radio system project is more than just an upgrade in technology; it’s a pivotal enhancement in our capability to ensure public safety,” said Pohatcong Police Chief Scott Robb, who is president of the Warren County Police Chiefs Association. “When completed, the enhanced radio system will allow us the capability for responding more swiftly and effectively to emergencies, ensure a safer environment for our residents, and provide critical communications abilities for effective scene command and operations for our first responders.”

Robb thanked the commissioners for their “continued unwavering support to all Emergency Services within Warren County.”

The budget also includes $625,813 for road resurfacing in addition to more than $4 million in state grant funds for that purpose; $1.8 million for road an drainage projects including $500,000 to repair Spring Valley Road in Hardwick after finally obtaining NJ Department of Environmental Protection approval for that project; $1 million for bridge and culvert improvements; and $2,1 million in improvements to county buildings and properties

The capital ordinance is fully funded through the Commissioners’ “pay-as-you-go” policy and does not require issuance of any debt.