PASSAIC COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS INTRODUCE A COUNTY BUDGET WITH ZERO PERCENT TAX INCREASE FOR THE 4^TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Passaic County is the only county in the State not to raise taxes since 2018

(Paterson, New Jersey) – On Tuesday, February 22^nd, the Passaic County Board of Commissioners introduced a balanced and responsible 2022 budget that includes a zero percent property taxes increase while still providing investments in infrastructure, parks, and historic sites. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Board of County Commissioners introduced a budget with a zero percent tax increase. Passaic County is the only county in the State not to raise taxes since 2018, making it a leader in New Jersey in stabilizing taxes.

“For the fourth consecutive year, Passaic County is not raising taxes, recognizing the difficulties many of our residents have endured these past two years while maintaining critical investments in our infrastructure and the Passaic County Park System,” stated Budget Committee Chairman Commissioner Pat Lepore. “Because of conservative fiscal management and planning, Passaic County has weathered the global pandemic without any negative implications to our taxpayers.”

In 2021, the Board of County Commissioners established the Passaic County Jail Assessment Committee, a cross section of representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, county government, police and civilian unions (including the state PBA) judiciary, public defender’s office, and community representatives – to determine a responsible path forward to ensure public safety, reduce recidivism among incarcerated individuals, and protect Passaic County’s taxpayers. Following an interactive and transparent community-driven process, the Board of County Commissioners entered into a historic shared services agreement with Bergen County to regionalize correction services, a policy decision to protect future taxpayers.

“The regionalization of correctional services with Bergen County means that Passaic County taxpayers will never have to undertake a half billion dollars in debt to build a new jail, and most importantly, we are going to see more police officers deployed into our communities, enabling Sheriff Richard Berdnik to expand public safety programs,” stated Commissioner Terry Duffy. “Passaic County residents are going to see immediate benefits from this agreement, including expanded ambulatory services to supplement volunteer efforts in our municipalities, increased community policing, and a unit designated to patrol the Passaic County Park System.”

In addition, the agreement with Bergen County allows the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office to expand public safety initiatives that will result in more police officers on our streets and tax savings for municipalities, including the following:

• Undertaking the transportation of inmates from municipalities – a function currently handled by local police departments that often requires local police to be taken off patrol duties in their communities and results in overtime costs.

• Providing hospital watch coverage for municipalities to keep local police officers in their communities, also resulting in overtime cost savings.

• Creating a regional EMS service to provide ambulances to municipalities struggling to provide these services with volunteers.

• Establishing a unit to patrol the Passaic County Park System to ensure the safety of visitors and reduce vandalism issues at parks and historic sites.

• Expanding community policing, the Crime Scene Investigation Division, and Hope One Van to combat the opioid epidemic and supplement local efforts.

The public will have an opportunity speak on the budget at the public hearing which will be held on March 22 at 5:30 pm at the County Administration Building located at 401 Grand Street, Paterson, NJ 07505.