Governments at every level are facing extraordinary challenges. Across the entire nation, growth has virtually stopped. Real estate values have eroded and government revenues are down. We have even seen a decline in the tax base of Monmouth County for the first time since 1992 and 1993. In the face of this grim reality our duty is not to complain or make excuses.
It is our responsibility to find ways to continue to do the business of government and do it to our own high standard and without placing too great a burden on the taxpayers we serve. One of the answers is that we will work with other governments to share resources and reduce costs while sustaining or enhancing our level of service. Another will be to identify services that can be provided as effectively by interests or agencies outside of government and transfer some functions entirely to them.
All departments have been challenged to identify new sustainable sources of revenue. We will also look across all of our operations and make the distinction between beneficial and essential government services. We will always maintain essential services but this may be a year when some things that do not meet this rigorous standard will be cut back or eliminated. But this does not mean we will do nothing but cut.
This year we will see progress in expanding our court facilities and a new home for the prosecutor’s office. We will also see the continuation of other valuable shared services. Our 911 system now serves 44 towns and provides reliability and cost savings to every one of them. Its new home being built to be shared with the emergency management offices will enhance our ability to serve. The Monmouth County Improvement Authority will continue to offer access to credit for all of our towns and school districts at rates based on the triple a bond rating that Monmouth County has again been awarded. We are one of only 22 counties out of 3,000 nationally to receive this rating from the three rating agencies.
Let us not forget this is a draft, a work in progress.
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4 comments:
Saying that this is "a draft" is fine however the tone of the "draft" is that a burden will be put upon the taxpayers instead of having the Freeholders do the responsible thing and make the cuts necessary to hold the tax line. I applaud Mr. Curley for putting the taxpayers before patronage politics. Monmouth County is an excellent place to live, believe me I live here.Unfortunately, there are many that have made the County Goverment their own personal ATM machine. So please Ms. Burry as you review your draft please note, there is over 10% unemployment,and many of us have been asked to take pay cuts, we just can't pay any more. So, the next time you're walking through the Hall of Records think about how much is being wasted and even think how many are abusing the privledge of working for our great county.
I read the budget remarks by Burry and also the Curley statements and wonder were these people in the same room. It seems as thought the Director was saying there would be cuts as well as possible elimination of some services. In light of that Curley seems to be grandstanding. When a budget is rolled out it is certainly not in its final form and takes weeks of review and commentary by our elected officials as well as the public. Shame on Curley for turning this into "campaign diatribe". Its time for him to stop showboating and get down to working "with" all the freeholders. Being a "maverick" doesn't always help and very often can be a hinderance to progress. This is going to be a tough year. Lets all get down to work.
Doubtful Burry knows what she is talking about. Just a figurehead for those who run the party and make the calls. Big on taking credit for ideas and policies other spoon feed her.
You obviously don't know Lillian Burry Anon 10:37. She would eat her young for power. She IS one of those that run the Republican party. I've seen her in action. She's a barracuda with lipstick.
Why is there a need for a tax increase anyway? What are we getting for that? Is this why the voters put the republicans back in charge? So then, nothing changes...ever. Same script, different actors.
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