Camden Co. 2002 Budget Introduced

The Camden County Board of Freeholders has introduced a budget for 2002 that calls for a slight rise in the county tax rate due to increased costs for heightened security measures, public safety programs and county jail expenditures.

Under the new budget, however, county services will be maintained or enhanced while providing capital improvements for the benefit of the county's 500,000 residents.

The proposed 2002 budget calls for an 89-cent tax rate - up 3 cents over last year - and total appropriations of $265 million. The rate rise, the first for Camden County in three years, will mean a $30-a-year increase for an owner of a $100,000 home.

The county's response in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks factored into security and public safety costs, while the withdrawal of state prisoners from the county jail resulted in a loss of $4.5 million in state funding, officials said.

The budget also reflects additional funding for Camden County College and Technical schools, increased costs for employee medical benefits and contractual salary and wages, and a considerable drop in county investment earnings.

"As a result of the economic downturn and what's been happening in the market, the county's interest earnings are down from 6 percent a year ago to 2 percent," County Administrator Mark Lonetto said. "This means the county's return on investments is down by $1.5 million from a year ago."

Despite the major loss in state funding for the county jail, there will be no cutbacks in educational, vocational and rehabilitation programs for inmates - such as computer training labs and drug and alcohol counseling - initiated and nurtured by Freeholder Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell.

"These programs are important, and will be maintained," Lonetto said.

A major public concern - the easing of traffic congestion - will be addressed this year in the Cherry Hill/Voorhees area, Winslow Township, Gloucester Township and the East Atlantic Avenue corridor by the county Department of Public Works Department under the direction of Freeholder Thomas J. Gurick.

The Open Space Program - which has been highly successful thanks to the overwhelming support of conscientious county taxpayers - will continue to protect land from development, preserve historic sites and enhance recreation areas for the enjoyment of present and future generations of county residents. Directed by Freeholder Laurelle A. Cummings, the program has saved over 500 acres in the past two years and is on target to realize its goal of preserving 2,000 acres by 2010. To date, the program has funded $3.6 million in open space and historic site preservation and recreational enhancements.

Capital improvement projects and programs funded through the 2002 County Budget, which was introduced at a special meeting Tuesday, February 26, include:

$3 million for the expansion of the Camden County Detention Center in Lakeland, under the direction of Freeholder Helen M. Albright; $2.8 million for Public Works projects directed by Freeholder Gurick; $2 million toward the construction of two new libraries in Camden proposed by Freeholder Riletta L. Cream as part of the expansion of the county library system; $1.8 million for the expansion of Camden County College's Camden campus and improvements at the county college campus in Blackwood; $1.7 million for Park Green, a program directed by Freeholder Cummings, for improvements, including an amphitheater, at Cooper River Park; $250,000 to continue Distance Learning computer technology for county schools through the Tech 2000 Program initiated by Freeholder Director Jeffrey L. Nash; Continued funding for the Influenza Immunization Program, which distributed over 30,000 flu shots this past winter, and other Senior Citizen health programs under the supervision of Freeholder Annette Castiglione-Degan; Continued funding for the $50 Senior & Disabled Rebate for CCMUA ratepayers.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Mary Ethel Costello School, 520 Cumberland Street, Gloucester City.

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Author: Kevin McElroy