Monmouth Freeholders Cut Spending and Taxes

Monmouth County Freeholders Gary Rich, Lillian Burry, Director Tom Arnone, Deputy Director Serena DiMaso and John Curley

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders introduced a budget on Thursday that reduces County spending by $18.2 million and reduces the property tax levy on County residents and businesses by $4.5 million.  The tax decrease is the first in 21 years and maybe ever, according to County Finance Director Craig Marshall.

The budget for the next fiscal year rolls County taxes back to 2008 levels and reduces spending to less than the 2007 budget. The tax cut reverses an increase, the only one since 2007, that the County imposed in the current year.

“This is a real cut,” said Freeholder Director Tom Arnone. “There is no fiscal gimmickry or raiding of trust funds or utility balances in this budget.”

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, February 5-7, 2015

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, February 5

• William Shatner at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• College Men’s Basketball: Monmouth U. vs. Fairfield (WLB) – MORE INFO
• To Be Young, Gifted and Black at Algonquin Arts Theatre (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• Substance of Bliss by NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Lives of Reason at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Rumors by South Street Players (Spring Lake) – MORE INFO
• NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowship Exhibit (WLB) – MORE INFO
• 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking Exhibit (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Radio Technology Museum Open at InfoAge (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO

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Doherty: Belmar’s new pay to pay law has nothing to do with his Freeholder campaign

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, left, is preparing to face off with Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, right, in the November election.  Doherty said the relaxed pay to play law he is set to pass in Belmar has nothing to do with his Freeholder campaign.

The Mayor and Council of Belmar has introduced an ordinance that would remove the current restrictions on the Borough’s liquor license holders, real estate developers, professionals and vendors from contributing to the campaigns of Borough elected officials seeking higher office.

Mayor Matt Doherty told MoreMonmouthMusings that the ordinance has nothing to do with his candidacy for Monmouth County Freeholder.

Doherty announced that he is seeking the Democrat nomination for Freeholder on January 15.  The ordinance was introduced on January 19 and is on the agenda for a public hearing and final vote at the Borough Council meeting tonight.  Doherty said it will be tabled and another version will be introduced at tonight’s meeting.

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Neptune City teen’s vote counts. Special election set for council race

Michaela O’Brien, photo via facebook

Michaela O’Brien’s vote has been counted, 84 days after she cast it, and as a result the Neptune City Council election between Democrat Michael Skudera and Republican Richard Pryor is tied at 602-602.  A special election between the two currently former councilmen will be held on March 22.

O’Brien, an 18 year old Brookdale student voting for the first time on November 3, voted by provisional ballot when her name did not appear in the poll book at the Neptune City First Aid Building.  O’Brien turned 18 in August and registered to vote on or about October 13, according to the election contest complaint file by Jason Sena, Esq on behalf of Pryor.

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Scharfenberger: Middletown is ready for the storm

Middletown, NJ- Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, Ph.D. announced today that the Township is ready for the coastal storm that is expected to hit New Jersey on Friday.

“Middletown is ready to face what may be the first major snow storm of the season,” said Scharfenberger, “The township has 153 pieces of equipment at its disposal to clear snow from more than 650 lane miles of road.”

The fleet includes 83 township plows, brining machines, sanders, and other heavy equipment. The township can put more equipment on the road this year thanks to the recent acquisition of several army surplus vehicles at no cost. The other 70 plows are provided by local contractors who augment township snow removal efforts as needed.

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Squirrel rescuer rejects plea deal

Freehold Township- Maria Vaccarella, the Howell woman who was threatened with a $1000 fine and six months in jail for rescuing two baby squirrels, rejected a plea deal of a $35 court costs and a suspended fine that was offered by Township Prosecutor Anthony Vecchio this afternoon.

Vaccarella and her pro-bono attorney, animal rights lawyer Doris Lin, showed up unannounced in Freehold Township Municipal Court to ask Vecchio to dismiss the summons that Fish and Wildlife officials mailed to Vaccarella after they took the squirrels she cared for after they were abandoned by their mother.  The case, which was transferred to Freehold from Howell Township because of a conflict, was originally scheduled for January 27th.

Vecchio told MoreMonmouthMusings that he thought the suspended fine and court cost would be a fair way to resolve the case that has received nationwide attention.  He said the case would be transferred back to Howell for litigation.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, January 15-17, 2016

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, January 15

• The Elvis Birthday Bash at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Substance of Bliss by NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Lives of Reason at TRT (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Carol Channeling at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• 19th Century New Jersey Chairmaking Exhibit (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Radio Technology Museum Open at InfoAge (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Beautiful Childhood: Permanent Collection Portraits (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Live Harness Racing at Freehold Raceway – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

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The Arnone Report: Impressive Accomplishments and Ambitious Plans

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Happy New Year Everyone. I am extremely pleased to have been selected as Freeholder Director for 2016.  It is an honor once again to represent the board in this capacity.  Last week at our annual county re-organization meeting I had an opportunity to briefly review my department’s accomplishments; ones that I believe have provided significant income to our county as well as savings to the taxpayers.

First I would like to thank my family for their support along the way as well as my, fellow Freeholders for their continued dedication to our county. In addition, I would like to wish all our Mayors best of luck as we begin the New Year.

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Arnone Calls For Tax Cut, Boost of Local Jobs

Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone

Freehold– Freehold Director Thomas A. Arnone called on his colleagues to reverse $4.9 million County property tax increase, 1.5%, imposed last year,  now that Monmouth County is no longer subsidizing the nursing homes that had cost Monmouth taxpayers almost $50 million over the last ten years.

Speaking at the annual reorganization of the County government on Wednesday afternoon, Arnone, who was elected as Director for 2016 by his fellow freeholders, announced that the auction of the nursing homes was completed this week and generated $32.4 million, $12.4 million more than expected.  Arnone said that as a result of no longer having to carry the nursing homes, that taxes should be reduced back to the level that the board had held steady from 2008 through 2014.  The Director told MoreMonmouthMusings that he would urge the Board to use the $32.4 million proceeds of the sale to reduce the County’s AAA rated debt.

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Year in review: November 2015

Jonelle Melton

Three Asbury Park Men were charged with the 2009 murder of Jonelle Melton, a 33 year old Red Bank Middle School teacher.

Democrats Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey defeated Republican Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande in the 11th Legislative District.  A Democratic SuperPac funded largely by the NJEA spent $1.5 million in the race, including television commercials implying that Angelini is inappropriately profiting from the drug abuse prevention non-profit that she leads.

For all the special interest money spent on behalf of the Democrats, Angelini lost to Downey by only 253 votes and the top vote getter, Houghtaling had only 713 votes more than the low vote getter, Casagrande.  Low voter turnout in Republican strongholds Freehold Township and Colts Neck was the difference in the election.

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