2-23-2023 9:55am

No Tax Increase for Morris County, Commissioners Present 2023 Budget

Chris Connors Editor

Morris County Commissioners introduce the 2023 Budget with no tax increase for the fourth consecutive year, despite rising costs of living.

The Morris County Board of Commissioners was pleased to introduce a 2023 Budget last night, with no increase in the tax rate for the fourth consecutive year, despite the dramatic rise in the cost of living.

“Without an increase in the tax rate, which is extremely important in these tough economic times, we are still delivering the same level of public services and even increasing funding in some key areas. Morris County’s continued, strong ratable growth and our prudent financial planning make this possible, despite spikes in non-discretionary expenses such as health insurance and pension costs,” stated Commissioner Deborah Smith, Chair of the Commissioners’ Budget Committee.

The proposed $343.5 million spending plan for 2023 includes the following allocations:

$8.9 million to support the Morris County Park Commission, stewards of the largest county park system in New Jersey (20,455 acres of parkland)
More than $12 million to support the County College of Morris, an increase over 2022
Almost $6.3 million to the Morris County Vocational School District, also an increase over 2022
More than $800,000 for Economic Development and Tourism

The 2023 spending plan allocates approximately $74.6 million towards public safety, including full dispatch services for 23 municipalities and daily backup services for Basic Life Support and Emergency Medical Services in all 39 Morris County towns.

In 2022, Morris County Basic Life Support Emergency Medical Service Units responded to over 3,866 emergency calls.

Morris County's strategic planning also involved using American Rescue Plan funds to cover certain capital expenses that were previously planned for 2023, 2024, and 2025, effectively reducing the county's future borrowing needs for upcoming projects.

“The Preservation Trust Fund Tax, which has protected and enhanced Morris County for more than 30 years, will stay level for 2023, at 5/8 cent per $100 of total county equalized property valuation. The tax pays not only for improvements to our county parks, but also for outstanding grant programs like Farmland Preservation, Open Space Preservation, Historic Preservation, Flood Mitigation, and Trail Design and Construction,” stated Commissioner Stephen Shaw, who is Chair of the Capital Budget/Facilities Review Committee and Liaison to the Office of Planning & Preservation.

Overall, Morris County’s 2023 Capital Spending Plan designated approximately $25.5 million toward repairing and enhancing roadway intersections, bridges, and culverts along the 287 miles of county roads.

Road resurfacing projects include:

3.3 miles of Mendham Road (CR 510) from Indian Head Road to Cold Hill Road in both Mendham and Morris Townships
2.2 miles of Main Road (US 202) from Fulton Street to Route 287 Northbound Ramps in Montville Township
4.1 miles of Ridgedale Avenue (CR 632) from Littell Road (Route 10) to Route 280 in both Parsippany and East Hanover Townships
3.8 miles of Tempe Wick Road/Glen Alpin Road (CR 646) from Leddell Road to Blue Mill Road in both Mendham and Harding Townships
1.8 miles of Newark Pompton Turnpike (CR 660) from Jacksonville Road to Route 23 in Pequannock Township

The Morris County Commissioners will consider the adoption of the 2023 Budget at their Wednesday, March 22, 2023, meeting.