April 20, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Somerset County 2021 Budget Preserves Essential Services and Maintains Triple A Bond Rating

Despite Financial Effects of COVID-19 All Programs and Projects Maintained at Current Funding and Service Levels

SOMERVILLE – The Somerset County Board of County Commissioners has introduced a county budget that preserves needed services for the county’s more than 331,164 citizens while continuing a history of responsible and sustainable fiscal outlook.

“The 2021 budget that we have created strikes the balance by being compassionate yet fiscally responsible. This budget ensures that we continue to provide all current services, while being able to add additional services such as free COVID testing and vaccinations for Somerset County residents,” said Director Shanel Y. Robinson. “This budget will also maintain the county’s triple-A bond rating, that permits us to get the best value for our tax dollars related to capital projects and investments that make Somerset County stand out among the other Counties within the state.”

Somerset County has seen an increase in home values this year which represents a 2.4 increase in ratables. “This increase shows that we are maintaining a high quality of life for our community and that we continue to be a place where people want to work and live,” said Deputy Director Sara Sooy. The budget also allows the county to introduce new programs to address the present needs of residents. “We have implemented Tele-Health through Richard Hall, which has made our mental health services available to more residents and our Human Services Department has created a pilot program with one of our municipal police departments to reach residents in crisis to improve interventional outcomes.”

A public hearing on the proposed county budget will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11. Residents are encouraged to participate and  watch the public hearing via a Zoom link contained on the County’s webpage or on the county’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SomersetCountyNJ. Prior to the meeting questions and comments can be sent to countyboardmeeting@co.somerset.nj.us.

Somerset County is in the top five New Jersey counties with the highest percentage of the population vaccinated.  Over 50 percent of Somerset County adults were partially vaccinated within the first three months, and the county is on track to exceed the 70 percent goal by June. “We’re proud to be able to add these programs including COVID vaccination clinics to touch so many lives while maintaining the fiscal restraint our taxpayers expect,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano.

The proposed $255,124,222.53 county budget includes $203,331,344.95 to be raised by taxation. The tax rate increase is less than ½ percent at 0.35. The average county home valued at $455,363 will see an overall county tax increase of $55.13.

Somerset County has retained its triple-A ranking from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s major bond-rating services.

The 2021 county budget will:

• Continue providing COVID vaccination and testing at no cost to the residents of Somerset County
• Maintain 248 centerline miles of county roads and 752 bridges.
• Maintain 38 parks, recreation and open space areas encompassing 15,000 acres.
• Fund nearly 200 shared services with local governments and other organizations in the county.
• Fund the Vocational-Technical High School, Raritan Valley Community College, Board of Social Services, Somerset County Business Partnership and Somerset County Park Commission.
• Fully fund the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy.
• Fund the Somerset County Business Partnership.

The budget includes shared services that save taxpayer dollars:

• Encouraging municipalities to take advantage of the Somerset County Marketplace.
• Recycling for all 21 municipalities, including schools.
• Transportation services for five municipalities and three nonprofit organizations.
• Vehicle maintenance for 14 municipalities.
• Vehicle fuel for over 50 agencies.
• Statewide emergency services training.

• Health services for nine municipalities.
• Full dispatch service for 16 municipalities (one out of county), 41 fire departments and 17 EMS stations.
• A statewide cooperative purchasing program.

Visit http://bit.ly/SCBudget2021 to view the budget document and budget presentation.

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