Monmouth County adopts $452.8 million budget for 2020

FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders has adopted the County’s $452.8 million budget for 2020. The budget, introduced on March 12, was subsequently adopted at the live-streamed April 7 Freeholder Meeting.

Before the budget was passed, the Freeholders elected to roll back their proposed salary increase. The Freeholders’ salaries will now be the same as they were in 2008. Further, the Freeholders declined to take health benefits or mileage reimbursement for travel, as has been done by previous Freeholder Boards, which results in thousands of dollars in savings.

“The Board continues to take a conservative approach to budgeting in order to ensure that all County Departments and Divisions are being fiscally responsible year round,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “It is important to note that Monmouth County continues to maintain the AAA Bond Rating, the highest possible rating assigned by credit agencies, and is dedicated to long-term financial planning to ensure future financial stability.”

The 2020 spending plan reflects operational savings of approximately $4.5 million in health care costs, workers compensation, shared service agreements for youth detention centers and lower pension costs. Over the last 10 years the County’s budget has actually decreased by $40.6 million from $493.4 million in 2010 to $452.8 million in 2020.

The annual budget covers the cost of maintaining 1,000 lane miles of roads, more than 900 bridges, 16,000 acres of County parks, emergency management services, 911 emergency communications, law enforcement through the Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s offices, elections, deed recording and passport services in the County Clerk’s Office, probates and adoptions through the Surrogate’s office as well as numerous additional programs and benefits.

Copies of the County budget are available on the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com.