Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise warned county legislators and department directors last week that serious belt-tightening will be required during the 2009 budget process. The budgeting will occur in a series of meetings held on Feb.18.
The county, which operates on a calendar year rather than a fiscal year schedule, will introduce its budget in the spring. The county budget may exceed $400 million for 2009.
Taxpayers throughout the county pay a quaterly bill that is determined by the county budget, their city’s budget, and the school budget.
“We’ve prided ourselves in producing sound, gimmick-free budgets and 2 keeping county taxes stable over the last six years,” said DeGise. “We’ve seen our credit rating improve and our debt burden drop as a result. To stay on that path now, and to limit as much as possible the tax burden on residents during these difficult economic times, we must review every department, every division and every program and find savings.”
The budget-cutting plan, which the county hopes to implement shortly, would ask for 10 percent cut in spending in each department as well as seeking out new revenues for a potential savings of $10 million over the next two years.