Arnone Report: Monmouth County Spending $43.8 million less than in 2010

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy Spring!

Last week the 2019 Monmouth County budget was approved during the March 18^th meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The adopted budget is $449.6 million, for comparison, in 2010 the County Budget peaked at $493.4 million, before its steady descent to $449.6 million in 2019, a decrease of $43.8 million.

In 2010 the County spent $173.6 million on salaries and wages, and in 2018 the county spent $166.8 million.  That amounts to a $6.8 million reduction in payroll spending while providing salary increases to our employees in each of those years, and maintaining services. This can be credited to an aggressive approach to vacancies and the provision of services including job consolidation, shared services, and outsourcing.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth Freeholders’ 2019 Budget Is $44 million Less Than 2010

2019 Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders: Sue Kiley, Pat Impreveduto (Deputy Director), Tom Arnone (Director), Lillian Burry and Gerry Scharfenberger

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently adopted their final budget of the decade.  In the ten years since the 2010 budget, annual spending for county government as declined by $43.8 million, 8.9%, according to an announcement by Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.

2010 was the year Arnone was first elected to the Freeholder Board and the year the GOP took back control of county government after two years of Democrat control. Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Middletown Mayor: If Pot Is Legalized, It Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry

Middletown Mayor Tony Perry says that if recreational marijuana is to become legal in New Jersey, that its retail sale of should be regulated like alcohol is regulated…with municipalities selling licenses and conducting background checks on the sellers.

The legislation currently under consideration in Trenton, and reportedly agreed upon by Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin amounts to an unfunded burden upon local governments, Perry said in a letter to Buena Vista Mayor Chuck Chiarello, President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, with copies sent to the 13th District legislators; Senator Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywomen Amy Handlin and Serena DiMaso, as well as Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Arnone Report: Freeholder Director’s update on efforts for odor mitigation and more

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

The first topic this week I would like to provide an update is our efforts at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center. It continues to be our mission to eliminate the odors emitted at the site.

As you may know, the County purchased an odor neutralizer that continues to be applied directly to the most critical areas, as well as other areas as needed. We will continue these efforts until the odor is under control. This remains a top priority for us at the County and we look forward to continuing an open dialogue with those impacted by this situation.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Monmouth County Officials Urge Caution During The Storm

The Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering has prepared the 1000 lane miles of County roads for the 2-4 inches of snow expected today, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said in an announcement.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

The Arnone Report: Public Works Keeping Roads Safe, Ongoing Progress At Dump

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone stayed safe and warm during last week’s snow and ice storm. We anticipate more inclement weather this week and as always, the County is prepared for whatever comes our way.

I’d like to thank our department of public works employees for working throughout this recent storm to clear our roads and county-owned properties. As always, these employees did a great job. I’d also like to thank our first responders who were also out working throughout the storm in difficult weather conditions.

It has been a busy and exciting few weeks in the County!

I want to update everyone on our efforts to eliminate the odors being emitted at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center. Last week we installed five vapor system stations. It is important to note that these non-toxic vapors do not mask the odors, but rather neutralize the odors, which is more effective.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

The Arnone Report: Progress at the dump and other good news

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy February! I hope everyone has been staying safe and warm this past week with the extremely cold weather. I’m excited that our friend Punxsutawney Phil did not see is shadow signaling that an early spring will be upon us.

Many exciting things have taken place last couple weeks.

On January 28, I participated in a Town Hall style meeting in Tinton Falls with Senator Vin Gopal as well as County and State employees to address the community’s concerns about the recent increase in odor coming from the reclamation center.  The several hundred people who showed up at the meeting, and many who didn’t, are justifiably concerned about the environmental impact of the dump on the health of our residents as well as property values.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Freeholders Invite Local Charities To Public Employees Giving Appeal

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is inviting local charities to apply to be beneficiaries of the New Jersey Employee Charitable Campaign, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced this afternoon.

“Independent charitable organizations are invited to join the County’s annual charitable campaign,” said Director Arnone, the Monmouth County 2019/2020 campaign chairman. “We know that there are many local not-for-profit organizations in our community doing phenomenal work that may not know about this fundraising opportunity. This is a chance for local charities to connect with public employees here in Monmouth County.”

In 2018, public employees in Monmouth County and its partners throughout the state donated over $747,000 to support the work of more than 800 charitable organizations.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Arnone Report: Happy New Year!

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday season spent with friends and family.

It’s hard to believe it is already January, but here we are. Thankfully we’ve lucked out so far with no major snowstorms impacting our area. However, as I have noted before, the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering has been preparing for inclement weather for months and is ready to serve at a moment’s notice.

I would like to discuss the county’s annual reorganization meeting that was held last Thursday afternoon. I can’t mention this meeting without first thanking the students in the singing group Stardust from Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Freehold Township. After hearing them sing at an event last fall, I asked if they would like to perform the National Anthem at our reorganization meeting. I can speak for the entire Freeholder Board when I say what a terrific job they did!

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet

Arnone Report: County supporting business and education, keeping the roads safe and clean

By Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Freeholder Director

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! It’s hard to believe the first day of winter is right around the corner when it feels like we just celebrated the end of summer!

As liaison to the department of public works and engineering, I want to ensure everyone that our employees have been preparing for any potential storms during the upcoming winter season. We have the best crews around who all have the same goal in mind – to keep our residents safe during any inclement weather. Our number one priority always has been and always will be safety.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Tweet