County Executive Benson Introduces His 2025 Budget
County Executive Benson Introduces His 2025 Budget
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Trenton, NJ – Mercer County Executive Dan Benson delivered his 2025 Budget Address to the County Board of Commissioners, presenting a fiscally responsible budget that maintains essential County services while navigating rising costs, lingering financial challenges, and the coming impact of federal funding cuts.
“We were left with a big financial mess by the previous administration, and we’re still cleaning it up,” Benson said. "Inflation, rising healthcare costs, past overspending, and the increased costs of housing juvenile offenders are all making this harder. But we need to take a different approach from what they’re doing on the federal level and continue to put our community first."
The budget as proposed totals $420,116,994.83. Non-grant budget spending is increasing this year by less than 2%, despite $16 million increased costs from employee salaries, wages, and benefits. Through diligent cost-cutting, as well as increasing property values, the proposed budget will decrease the overall County tax rate by over 6%, though Benson emphasized that it is too soon to know what impact this will have on municipal tax rates.
“While lean, this budget ensures we can continue to provide the County’s essential services without jeopardizing our future,” said Benson. “We’re tightening our belts everywhere we can.” Benson noted several cost-cutting measures his administration is taking, including leaving some vacancies unfilled and relocating staff from leased facilities to a vacant County-owned building.
Benson acknowledged that “the uncertainty and chaos in Washington are already impacting us here in Mercer County.” Although direct federal funds account for less than 2% of the total County budget, cuts to public health, Medicaid, infrastructure spending, job training, and social services will all impact Mercer and its residents, and may lead to difficult decisions in the future.
Benson provided updates on his administration’s significant progress in stabilizing the County’s finances. Since taking office, the administration has completed four audits, introduced new financial management software, and secured $400,000 in unclaimed state funds. “We’ve updated our accounting procedures and fixed many of the areas flagged in the 2023 audit that detailed the prior administration’s poor fiscal practices,” Benson shared. “Throughout this process we’ve been transparent with the ratings agencies about the steps we’re taking to stabilize our finances… I’m proud to say that the outlook from ratings agencies continues to be stable.”
Benson noted that despite the financial challenges facing the County, his administration is continuing to make key investments into Mercer’s future by advancing important infrastructure projects including:
- Renovations to the Trenton Thunder ballpark
- Modernizing the Trenton-Mercer Airport
- Rebuilding the Lincoln Avenue Bridge
- Revitalizing the South Broad Street corridor
Benson also emphasized that the County is continuing to utilize its dedicated Open Space Trust Fund to invest in preserving open space, and will soon launch a municipal and nonprofit grant program to maintain and improve Mercer’s popular trail network.
“These ambitious projects are just the beginning—and I’m excited to watch our shared vision of Mercer’s future being made real, brick by brick,” Benson stated.
Benson went on to highlight new partnerships with Mercer’s municipalities that help to save taxpayer money, like coordinated HAZMAT response services, upgrading the communication system for emergency responders, the renewed Municipal Assistance Road Resurfacing Program, and more shared projects planned throughout the coming year.
Benson concluded, “Whether it's protecting our seniors, renovating our ballpark, building a new airport terminal, planning for sustainable growth, or supporting our local businesses, no one is better equipped to get the job done than our County Government.”
“Our community expects results, and we are going to live up to those expectations. There’s still work to do, but together we will make County Government work for everyone.”
“We look forward to reviewing the County Executive’s budget and working closely with the administration to produce a budget that is both responsible and delivers essential services to residents,” said Mercer County Board of Commissioners Chair Kristin McLaughlin.
"Understanding the uncertainty coming out of Washington, we are encouraged to have received an introduced budget that's $5,000,000 less than the 2024 adopted budget," said Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Terrance Stokes. "The Commissioners are looking forward to reviewing this budget and making sure we can both provide essential services and are fiscally responsible."
The full speech can be viewed at http://www.mercercounty.org/
