CAMCO FREEHOLDERS CUT TAX LEVY AND RATE IN 2008 BUDGET WITHOUT REDUCING COUNTY SERVICES
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2008
Contacts: KEN SHUTTLEWORTH cell (609) 472-8837

The Camden County Freeholders introduced a 2008 spending plan today that reduces the tax levy by $1 million without a single employee layoff or reduction in any of over 200 services provided by county government.

“This is the second year in a row we have cut the levy,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “I don’t believe any other local government in the state has accomplished a levy reduction in consecutive years. I am proud to say that credit for this accomplishment belongs to our management team and our dedicated county employees."

Cappelli and Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell credited the 2005 employee separation plan for allowing the seven-member board to cut the levy for the second year in a row, effectively reducing the amount of taxes collected from county residents. The county work force now stands at 1,816, compared to 2,154 in 2004.

“The reduction in the work force has saved county taxpayers enough money – roughly in the range of $10 to $15 million this year – to offset the rising costs of fuel, utility costs, negotiated salary increases for county workers. A state-mandated $4.6 million increase to fund employee pensions posed significant challenges,” Cappelli said.

“The key to our success has been strict fiscal discipline on the part of each freeholder, as well as key administrators to make sure we kept vacated positions vacant, except in a handful of exceptions,” McDonnell added. He also praised leaders at a number of related agencies – including the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, the Board of Social Services, Camden County College and the Health Services Center, and the constitutional row officers – for following the lead of the freeholder board and reducing their respective work forces over the past three years.

Overall, McDonnell said, the county work force has been reduced by about 600 people with no impact on the quality of services. “Most of the credit goes to the employees who have shouldered the additional responsibilities and, through their dedication, have made sure there has been no diminution in services,” McDonnell added.

“The discipline exercised by the freeholders, plus the commitment by our employees, have combined to avoid the necessity for layoffs,” Cappelli said. “Employee and retiree expenses account for more than half the cost of operating government at any level. Controlling those costs is the toughest challenge faced by Freeholders.”

In addition to the operating budget, the freeholders introduced a $20.7 million capital budget that includes a number of long-term projects, including a $2.5 million expansion of the county-owned animal shelter at the Lakeland complex in Gloucester Township; $2.9 million for an aggressive dam repair program and $500,000 to improve the bike trail, driving range and rest rooms at Cooper River Park.

The $312,434,406.52 budget – on which a hearing is scheduled May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center – will be funded mostly from the $242,271, 733 levy on commercial and residential properties through the county’s 37 municipalities. The estimated 58-cent tax rate, down from 64 cents in 2007, will be applied to a tax base valued at $41,917,246, 674, up $3,712,872, 401 over 2007.

“So, despite concerns nationally and in the region about shrinking property values, Camden County saw an increase of nearly 10 percent on the overall value of property last year,” Cappelli said.

While several departments reduced operational costs, compared to last year, public safety operations were allocated increases that totaled about $6 million.
“Public safety, including funding of the county prosecutor’s office, is a top priority,” Cappelli said.

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