[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6039762,"mediaKeyId","3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7","parentId",3782673,"title","Prosecutor seeks state grant and medical service partner for critical-incident program; board authorizes application","audioSeconds",149,"startMs",4656000,"endMs",4805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7&start=4656&end=4805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7/thumbnail_4656000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6039762/Sussex-County/New-Jersey/Prosecutor-seeks-state-grant-and-medical-service-partner-for-critical-incident-program-board-authorizes-application","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039762-736b93cb70e188b4166c17a7894b647d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445649&Signature=aIohhlGeHEEQNynjRVkuP9dxo8BVTK-rtqNU~SqWH158b6eeBQIzFVgFt1k37NWP5L8pLWSRimTQyBIJ7aXJoRLDHvjfndi2qGvDaONBQf9V1Egknl~C1frS2qf1G-RF3Qp5K5abhEGTrr8ZGBqtDBSIE5EHCLcb-OwRydxo3OVPK0wY9RydBxTvZ5jrXfcpqFZt5Z9tpaxvIIvvPchjbAhFKRCeqpqXkYijmAQDOPDTjs8vcT0E3DyvX7JP~8HLYO444ebMTFccyZUSOydGosOI-fusZNyz7TzX74MC3iGJXDldBciuEjaaRKJcdmZ1FIMvOmxhFt5VJH~nMijeXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","County of Sussex, NJ","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Sahil Cabise asked commissioners to authorize an application for state funding tied to the county’s ARRIVE program and the state-mandated critical-incident model during the March 26 meeting. The board approved a resolution to submit the grant application and to allow a letter of intent with the medical provider identified by the prosecutor.

Sahil told the board the state has funding available to support the county’s critical-incident needs and that the prosecutor’s office identified one medical-service provider willing to serve the locally defined needs. Sahil described the request as time-sensitive in part because the county has had difficulty finding medical providers with the required specialized experience.

Nut graf: The prosecutor’s office requested the board’s permission to pursue state grant funds to fund critical-incident services and to enter a letter of intent with a provider; the commissioners approved the request by roll call so staff can proceed with the application and related agreements.

Sahil described the available state funding during his remarks and asked the board to approve both the grant application and a related letter of intent with the county’s chosen provider, MHA (as identified on the record). The prosecution office’s request included the goal of offsetting local liabilities and ensuring access to specialized services for law-enforcement responses to critical incidents.

The board moved and passed the resolution to submit the grant application; Deputy Director Jill Space moved the motion and Commissioner Jack DeGroot seconded. The roll-call vote was recorded as yes from Deputy Director Space, Director Carney, Commissioner DeGroot and Commissioner Henderson; Commissioner Hayden was absent.

Ending: The prosecutor’s office will proceed to submit the application and work with county purchasing and administration on any required letters of intent or contracts if the grant is awarded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 26, 2025 Meeting Board of Sussex County Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","Sussex County’s acting prosecutor asked the commissioners to approve applying for state funding to support a mandated critical-incident program and to allow a letter of intent with a medical service provider; the board authorized submission of the grant application by roll call.","taxTitle","Sussex County, New Jersey","taxId",14529,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039767,"Sussex County authorizes three-year VMware licensing after vendor pricing change; IT warns of imminent service cutoff",291,4365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7&start=4365&end=4656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7/thumbnail_4365000.jpg","/articles/6039767/Sussex-County/New-Jersey/Sussex-County-authorizes-three-year-VMware-licensing-after-vendor-pricing-change-IT-warns-of-imminent-service-cutoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039767-d5f61e20629a03f2afd9a04b18639b2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445649&Signature=Asdxp6pA9wB-WNi3pqZfCxyAFvXdFy3w68s~sy1ZkRlmT838SN1tEeqZSxw9gzsVY~fGm76lM7k5iSZHj989WFxXEVY8-cZeoYIA3C5PrrKyY-YX5zPaueLP1gbCy-sszMi~osMxnzp0EjwSLo-xH22j7GRzkx6I3PvYjRVp8ZuNd58PdIN9gMmx1Tiamb4C5Zg-JFPYe2XcwrtHb9TdiwhgCE606SRq8d9UNRIfD1wiiXneDaRJJJp6BwYEHZglsDHXuIk0b0cc2dduNUeLyOdBIktoMwjfgGSxAyLVkeVYXn1GZdw8sMqRi8n9FCdHHvZpYlITiUVu6kwOJ78Qkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sussex County commissioners on March 26 approved an emergency purchase to renew VMware licensing after vendor changes and a licensing-model shift created a short window to act.

Jeff (county IT staff) told the board the county’s existing evaluation license expires April 2 and that licensing and vendor transitions created delays in proposal turnaround. He said a one-year renewal option arrived at about $70,400 while a three-year vendor proposal was $178,000; a later vendor response listed a three-year total of $211,000. County staff said choosing a prepaid three-year commitment produced the most cost-effective outcome and would avoid losing “visibility to the infrastructure.”

Nut graf: The board approved the IT purchase by roll call to avoid service disruption to core county systems; IT staff said the three-year prepaid commitment delivered savings compared with the higher one-year quote that appeared during vendor negotiations.

Jeff described the procurement timeline and the urgency to act: vendors handling VMware licensing shifted after Broadcom’s acquisition and related divestitures (staff referenced a vendor name in the record), causing proposals to be delayed. “The most economically viable alternative for the county to save that $32,000 was to go with the 3 year prepaid option,” Jeff said in explaining the choice.

The resolution authorizing the purchase passed on roll call with present commissioners voting yes (Deputy Director Jill Space, Director Chris Carney, Commissioner Jack DeGroot and Commissioner Allen Henderson). Commissioner Hayden was absent at the vote. Staff noted the purchase would be routed through a Cooperative Purchasing Alliance vehicle and that purchasing corrected an initial resolution text that had incorrectly referenced a contract rather than the cooperative purchasing agreement.

Clarifying details included in the staff remarks: the one-year vendor quote was listed at $70,400; the county’s initial three-year quote was $178,000 before a later $211,000 figure was quoted by a vendor channel; the urgent deadline stemmed from a 90-day evaluation license expiring April 2. The board’s roll-call approval authorizes staff to complete the procurement to protect network infrastructure and county operations.

Ending: Commissioners thanked IT staff for identifying a cost-saving option and moving quickly to avoid a service lapse; staff will complete the purchase and report back as required by purchasing procedures.","County IT requested authorization to prepay a three-year VMware license after vendor pricing and licensing-model changes made a one-year renewal much more expensive. Commissioners approved the purchase to avoid losing infrastructure visibility when a 90-day evaluation license expires April 2.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039772,"Residents and county employees urge commissioners to keep telework as board adopts handbook changes",1657,603000,2260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7&start=603&end=2260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7/thumbnail_603000.jpg","/articles/6039772/Sussex-County/New-Jersey/Residents-and-county-employees-urge-commissioners-to-keep-telework-as-board-adopts-handbook-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039772-35e313262d88aa37b8761ba292e64ccf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445649&Signature=PoMsYeK2BDrSennH73r2bG7pgmACEe~5k31CRXlkW2U7HU89ycW2w0GPvYJDx0gqFWnYtJfAp59wkdqwZpteGC~Bpy65tOxqVZ-UY2BUNIPj6l0A9Y9OJ~0V2jl6jKhJw3tcmuHXzotEx0N-OIbMVZ1cYnM5FfOdd3sx1C3KfKD-fVi41v8yiZjzKqO6VVvCpd8qLzi7dcq4-Yq81nr150GTizdpuiRJCn~JYyKF69lEZLr7PVxgPJtCec41jlDdDlowKo1MIFbnO6w36mkkXPwYAdW95igx4WMdYIMji-FIZJWNzojavl4LWlcFi37DfwTvqVNYlmYXPyJ6UsZHmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and county employees told the Sussex County commissioners on March 26 that eliminating the county telework policy would harm recruitment and retention and increase costs for workers; the board had adopted a package of personnel-related resolutions earlier in the meeting that public speakers said included handbook language ending telecommuting.

Mary Turk of Wantage Township, who said she had commented previously, urged the board to “implement alternative options for flexible hours” such as 10-hour days or summer hours as a way to maintain work-life balance and retain staff. Amanda Norman of Wantage described telecommuting as a benefit that “reduces stress and eliminates time and costs associated with commuting,” and urged the board to reconsider removing telecommuting as an option.

“Telecommuting fosters a flexible work environment allowing employees to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively,” Amanda Norman said during public comment; she suggested a four-day, 10-hour schedule as an alternative if the board did not restore telework. Andrea Anglima, from Andover, told commissioners she had spoken to many county employees who were “fearful to voice their desire for telework” and offered to provide letters and a drafted proposal to commissioners through staff.

Nut graf: Public commenters emphasized staff morale, retention and burn-out risks if telework or flexible scheduling were removed; county staff and the board said personnel actions were being handled through the employee-handbook amendment process already before the board.

The administration and the board also addressed the county’s competing fiscal priorities during the meeting. Deputy Director Jill Space said the board could cut the county portion of taxes but only at the cost of reducing services; she noted the board increased support for the vocational school this year rather than reduce services.

Context and formal action: Earlier in the meeting the board adopted a group of resolutions (resolutions A through H) by roll call. Public comment referred specifically to “resolution C” as “establishing amendments to various policies set in the Sussex County employee handbook regarding the elimination of the current telework policy.” The resolutions package including resolution C was adopted by roll call (Deputy Director Space, Director Carney, Commissioner DeGroot, Commissioner Hayden and Commissioner Henderson voted yes on the package during the roll call shown in the transcript).

Ending: Commenters asked the board to accept written proposals and letters from county employees and to consider flexible scheduling alternatives if the telework option is removed.","Multiple residents and county employees urged commissioners to retain telework or adopt flexible alternatives during public comment; the board earlier adopted a set of resolutions that included amendments to the county employee handbook (identified in public comment as removing the telework policy).",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039777,"Sussex County introduces $126.7 million 2025 budget; public hearing set for April 23",1468,2495000,3963000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7&start=2495&end=3963","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3782673-9a4a12217a81cf2337b37ce3caee17e7/thumbnail_2495000.jpg","/articles/6039777/Sussex-County/New-Jersey/Sussex-County-introduces-1267-million-2025-budget-public-hearing-set-for-April-23","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039777-427dd077bf6dc3d4cc400f2465287579/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445650&Signature=BgYQ0e8l5IcE~AqeuHH6xtHfLnx0EIHJZTdTxJfhn7T-N8Bg679d2ErFxaMjHX8taj5kP4NF2UVbezHnVapedJPzkBZzHMd0KvWh2MSAN~8U48EoZ73h~yCT1r6hmYFZWjvRo6CJG1fMgc6t6tWO9J9YszYnVLW1vMy-qqVwUu7TH1~0F5TpYWG0P1kRFhZzdZ2-NVSCR3ssWfMUVUagcOfDfcHZgDKlSXF7vZq70HV1k4ZLo0igoTS8SYtBQffyegS7B01B6w6tSgbxnhtBUs-b85tYE83QhoAqna1cnbknAneSyaQV9BDVj4ForJcxvlmpFoPbw3S0Jeoz6uAx4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners on March 26 introduced a $126,715,149.82 2025 county budget and set a public hearing for 6 p.m. April 23 at the County Administrative Center on Spring Street.

The budget was presented to the board by Elka (county staff member) and budget director Tony (county staff member) during the meeting; during a roll-call vote the resolution to introduce the budget passed with four “yes” votes and one abstention (Commissioner Allen Henderson).

The introduction matters because it begins a statutory public-inspection period and schedules the hearing at which taxpayers may object before the board considers final adoption. “We have to have at least 18 days for the public to do their inspection of the budget and, then we have our public hearing which will be on April 23,” Elka said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The introduced budget increases total appropriations about 3.19% from last year but keeps the county tax levy increase below 1% — listed in the presentation as 0.997% — by using fund balance, grants and other revenues. Commissioners said the plan seeks to hold down the property-tax burden while funding statutory obligations, capital needs and schools that rely on county support.

County staff described the fiscal picture in detail. The presentation summarized the county’s revenue mix and reserves: the 2024 year-end fund balance was described in the presentation as $22.8 million, about 18.10% of last year’s operating budget; the budget anticipates using fund balance this year and projects a fund-balance draw (the presentation referenced “utilizing 8.774 of fund balance” and an anticipated available fund balance of about $8.8 million). The board said it will continue to regenerate fund balance and use a mix of pay-as-you-go and limited bonding for capital projects.

The 2025 tax levy was presented at approximately $103.9 million; the ratable base used in the presentation was described as about $26.1 billion and an estimated county rate of $0.397 per $100 of assessed value. The board also presented a $13.7 million capital program focused on schools, bridges, libraries, facility improvements and vehicles.

Commissioner Director Chris Carney praised staff work on the months-long budget process and said the plan “continues to provide resources for county services during higher than average inflationary times while keeping the amount to be raised in taxes lower than the current inflation rate.” He added that strong fund balance supports the county’s double-A-plus credit rating.

Public comment before the vote included repeated appeals on property taxes. Ken Collins of Andover Township urged commissioners “to figure out how to reduce the property tax burden” on homeowners and requested more economic development and ratables to ease residents’ property-tax bills.

The board formally authorized the clerk to advertise the revenues and appropriation summary and post notice of the April 23 public hearing; that motion passed by roll call with the same voting pattern as the budget-introduction resolution. Final adoption will follow a public hearing and any subsequent board action.

Ending: The budget documents and the PowerPoint presentation will be posted on the county website once the budget is officially introduced. The board’s next step is the advertised public hearing on April 23, when residents may present objections or comments for the record.","The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners introduced a $126.7 million 2025 budget and set a public hearing for April 23. Commissioners said the plan limits the county tax levy increase to under 1% while using fund balance and grants to cover other needs; one commissioner abstained on the introduction vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Prosecutor seeks state grant and medical service partner for critical-incident program; board authorizes application

Sussex County authorizes three-year VMware licensing after vendor pricing change; IT warns of imminent service cutoff

Residents and county employees urge commissioners to keep telework as board adopts handbook changes

Sussex County introduces $126.7 million 2025 budget; public hearing set for April 23