Burlington County Commissioners Adopt Fiscally Responsible Budget

MOUNT HOLLY – Keeping their commitment to fiscal responsibility and responsive government, the Burlington County Commissioners adopted a 2024 County Budget that delivers programs and services essential to residents’ quality of life, health and safety, while extending the County’s streak of having the lowest average county tax in New Jersey.

The $263 million spending plan was unanimously approved by the Commissioners last week along with the County’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust. The budget calls for a small reduction in total appropriations but maintains the County’s workforce and services.

“Responsible government means being good stewards with our County finances and this budget reflects sound fiscal planning and our county’s priorities and values, including our commitment to preserving Burlington County’s health, safety and quality of life,” said Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson. “It supports working families and provides services and resources to assist seniors and the most vulnerable residents, without jeopardizing our county’s affordability.” 

Burlington County had the lowest average County tax in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to property tax data released annually by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

“We’re confident we will continue to have the lowest average county tax in 2024,” Hopson said.

Supporting farmland preservation and parks improvement

The budget calls for a $187.5 million tax levy for government operations, plus an open space tax of 3.5 cents per $100. The open space tax is expected to generate about $20.29 million to fund farmland and open space preservation, parks and trails improvements, along with park programs.

The open space remains below the maximum 4 cents per $100 rate authorized by county voters in 2006.

More than 63,000 acres of farmland is preserved in Burlington County, ranking the county No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 7 nationally. Hopson said the additional the open space revenue would give the County resources to preserve more farms and improve parks and trails.

“We recognize our residents’ concerns about overdevelopment impacting quality of life. While home rule doesn’t allow us to interfere with local zoning or land use, we continue to aggressively target our county’s remaining farmland and open space for preservation,” said Hopson. “It will help us grow and enhance our parks, trail network and parks programing so all residents can access and benefit from our county’s expansive history, natural beauty and wildlife.”

Responsible financial planning

The budget’s operations tax levy complies with New Jersey’s statutory levy cap and maintains the County workforce of 1,075 total employees.

Total salaries and wages increased $8.2 million and includes contractual increases and other reasonable adjustments needed to attract and retain quality workers. The budget also funds increased County payments for employee pensions and health premiums.

The budget maintains the County’s annual support for both the Burlington County Institute of Technology and the Burlington County Special Services School District, and it increases County funding for Rowan College at Burlington County, which is seeking to navigate a proposed state funding reduction.

The spending plan continues funding for public safety, health and human services, including approved changes that increases assistance from the County’s first-time home buyer program and emergency home repair programs.

A total of 31 homebuyers have received assistance from the first-time homebuyer program since last summer when the Commissioners approved changes to boost the available assistance for downpayments, closing costs and interest reduction.

The investments are possible because of sound financial planning. The County plans to use $11.5 million of the County’s $32.4 million in fund balance from 2023 to support this year’s spending. County officials still anticipate ending the year with a healthy surplus in excess of $20 million.

The budget uses $6.4 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to offset revenue losses from the pandemic, marking the final year those funds will be available for revenue offset. It also continues to responsibly manage the County’s debt with $38.4 million in debt service, up $2 million from 2023.

The County’s net debt of $189.9 million is now about 25% less than the $253 million debt carried by the County in 2018.

Burlington County’s Aa1 credit rating from Moody’s Investor Services is near the top of its rating scale and the agency has repeatedly cited the county’s budgeting, cost controls and strong financial management in reports maintaining that rating.

“Moody’s rating allows us to negotiate lower interest on debt, saving the County and its taxpayers thousands of dollars annually,” said Hopson. “The rating and this budget are examples of the kind of smart and responsive government that residents have come to expect from us. We’re working to make a difference in the lives of every Burlington County resident and this budget will allow us to do that and more.”