Bergen County adopts ordinance to back $250 million improvement‑note program

Bergen County commissioners voted to adopt Ordinance 25-38 on second reading, allowing the county to guarantee the Bergen County Improvement Authority’s County Guaranteed Pool Note Program in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250,000,000. The ordinance was presented at the meeting as a vehicle to secure affordable financing for public works and infrastructure projects; the clerk confirmed the ordinance had been introduced at the Aug. 6 meeting and was advertised and posted as required. The public hearing was opened and closed with no public speakers, and the board proceeded to a roll‑call vote. Commissioners recorded six yes votes and the ordinance passed second reading and was adopted. The transcript records the clerk reading the ordinance title and the chair stating that county backing and the county’s AAA rating would allow the county to “move forward with projects that improve daily life for residents and support future growth.” The ordinance text in the meeting materials ties the county guarantee to the Bergen County Improvement Authority’s pooled note program, capped at $250,000,000 in aggregate principal. The adoption creates county authorization to back pooled notes issued by the improvement authority; specific projects to be financed and the timing of any bond or note sales were not discussed at length during the meeting. The transcript notes the ordinance had been advertised as required by law and that a roll‑call vote followed the public hearing. The clerk recorded Commissioners Ortiz, Sullivan, Vice Chairman Tonnelli, Chair Pro Tempore Vos, Commissioner Zor, and Chairwoman Amoroso as voting yes. No formal implementation timeline or individual project list was provided during the meeting. Any issuance of notes under the guarantee will follow the improvement authority’s procedures and any future approvals or financing steps required by law.