Cumberland County Freeholders Introduce 2012 Budget
On Tuesday, May 22nd, during the regular freeholder meeting, the Cumberland County Freeholder board introduced the 2012 fiscal budget.
The 2012 budget totals $118,591,828. That’s down more than $11 million from last year’s budget, said Freeholder Deputy Director Tom Sheppard, a member of the county finance committee. County Freeholders are holding the line on the county budget by using $7,500,762 of the county’s $8.5 million in surplus to fill the void created by a decline in income by eroding ratables. Contrary to last year’s tax increase from 86.48 cents to 91.28 cents on every $100 of assessed value, this year the Freeholders are anticipating what could be up to a 1 cent reduction in the tax rate, when the tax board strikes the new rate in August.
The current tax rate of 91.28 cents per every $100 of assessed value is expected to drop to about 89.58 cents in August 2012. The county expects to collect $82,938,491 in taxes, plus have an income of $28,152,575 and together with the $7,500,762 from surplus will generate the budget total of $118,591,828.
The 2012 budget also shows a reduction of county employees, from 960 full time employees, to just 762. The sale of the manor was a large part of the reduction in the county’s payroll. Additionally, the sale of the manor will generate $14 million dollars, and that will help replenish the county’s surplus.
I’m very proud of the work we’ve done. A lot of time and effort went into this budget to hold taxes without sacrificing county services, said Freeholder Director Carl Kirstein.