How Camden County reduced the tax levy three years in a row
Dear Neighbors,
At a time of great change in our state, the quotes below from Camden County Administrator, Ross Angilella, acting on the philosophy of the Camden County Board of Freeholders, explain how the County reduced the tax levy for three consecutive years, cutting the direct cost of government to taxpayers by $17.1 million. The quotes appeared in a Courier-Post story today on local government’s reaction to Governor Christie’s speech on the 2010 budget.
Camden County officials say it is possible to function on less.
"In the last three years, we've cut the direct cost of government to taxpayers by $17.1 million, " said County Administrator Ross Angilella. "The cost of county government here has dropped. I believe we're the only government in the state to do that."
While many municipalities resumed wringing their hands after Christie's budget speech Tuesday afternoon, the example Camden County has set might be proof that it is possible to survive the current environment without a drastic decrease in services or increase in property taxes.
"I disagree with any attempt to scapegoat public employees. But having said that, we also have to make structural changes in how we do government in New Jersey, " Angilella said. "It's about how much government we have and how we provide services."
Camden County has experienced plummeting revenues and cost increases along with the rest of the country, and Angilella described both last year's and this year's budgets as extremely tough. The county reduced its workforce by 600 employees over the past three years through attrition and has not had to resort to layoffs, he added.
Edward T. McDonnell
Freeholder Deputy Director
