Hunterdon Budget Reduces County Tax Rate To Lowest Level in 11 Years

Following last year’s tax rate cut, the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners, at the April 1st  Board Meeting, unveiled their FY25 budget that will reduce the county tax rate to its lowest level in 11 years and continue to keep the County debt-free for the 11th straight year.

Commissioner Director John E. Lanza stated at the meeting, “This year’s budget is something that we can all take great pride.  The budget as proposed not only cuts 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.”

The county tax rate will be reduced from .309 per $100 of assessed property value to .306, under the $122,512,539 budget introduced at the meeting.

County Commissioner and budget co-liaison Shaun C. Van Doren remarked at the meeting, “Cutting the county tax rate to the lowest level in 11 years doesn’t just happen by chance, but rather is 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.”

Mr. Van Doren also noted that the FY25 budget contained funding for two major priorities that were outlined by the Commissioner Board including:

• A $1 million grant fund to support the refurbishment of municipal parks, and

• A $500,000 grant program to support municipal law enforcement entities which Director Lanza called for at the annual reorganization meeting of the Hunterdon County Commissioner Board.

County Is Also Debt Free For 11th Straight Year

Fellow budget co-liaison and County Commissioner Zach Rich highlighted the historic investment in career and technical education contained within the FY25 budget adding, “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 added that the budget contained extra funding to eliminate a proposed 3.5% tuition increase on the county’s regional high schools that send students to programs offered at Hunterdon County Polytech.

Commissioner Jeff Kuhl commended Commissioner Director John Lanza for continuing to carry on the ‘New Era of Partnership’ which Mr. Kuhl initiated as last year’s Board Director and included direct grant programs to Hunterdon County’s 26 municipalities for things like local playground improvements and municipal infrastructure upgrades with Commissioner Kuhl noting, “Beyond improving local facilities, these direct grants also help to control local property taxes.”

Commissioner Susan Soloway noted Deputy Director Van Doren and Commissioner Rich deserve great credit for their collective 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 commitment of our county department leaders in the budget process matters.”

Ms. Soloway also added, “Working together, Hunterdon County is setting an example for others of what good governance and strong fiscal policy looks like.”

Commissioner Director Lanza stated in closing, “I would like to thank Deputy Director Van Doren and Commissioner Rich, for your thoughtful and diligent work alongside 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 in preparing the FY25 budget.”