The Bergen County Board of Commissioners on the road in New Milford adopted a package of capital and bond ordinances that together comprise most of the county's 2025 capital budget and introduced an ordinance to add grant funds to the 133 River Street rental-housing project.

The measures approved on final reading include ordinances numbered 25-20 through 25-35, covering road and ADA work, parks, public safety, public works, college and school capital projects and other items. Commissioners also introduced Ordinance 25-36 on first reading to appropriate an additional $82,279 in state grant funds to a previously adopted bond ordinance.

Why this matters: The ordinances fund a range of infrastructure and facilities work across Bergen County, from a $10,000,000 appropriation for the 133 River Street rental housing project to multimillion-dollar bond authorizations for public works, parks, and county buildings. County officials said the package is financed in part by bonding and state grants and said the county's triple-A bond rating allows borrowing at favorable rates.

Most important facts first: During remarks before the ordinance hearings, Chairwoman Alvaroso said the 133 River Street project is designed "for firefighters who are starting out, teachers who are starting out in their career and can't afford to live in Bergen County," adding that the development would house those workers while their incomes are below certain limits and then be occupied by new entrants as earlier residents move on. The ordinance text read at the meeting shows a $10,000,000 appropriation for the 133 River Street project funded from the county's general capital improvement fund.

County staff and the county administrator described the wider capital program and the operating budget context. The administrator said the administration initially introduced an operating budget "in excess of $720,000,000," and after commission review the number was reduced to about $719,000,000. The administrator also reported the capital budget total is roughly $70,000,000 for 2025.

Details from the ordinances read into the record include:
- Ordinance 25-23: a capital ordinance authorizing the 133 River Street project, appropriating $10,000,000 from the general capital improvement fund.
- Ordinance 25-24: a bond ordinance appropriating $5,163,900 for department administration finance improvements and authorizing $4,918,000 in bonds or notes.
- Ordinance 25-25: a bond ordinance for Department of Health Services improvements appropriating $1,071,000 and authorizing $1,020,000 in bonds or notes.
- Ordinance 25-28: a bond ordinance for Department of Public Works improvements appropriating $25,396,040 and authorizing $24,186,738 in bonds or notes.
- Ordinance 25-29: parks capital improvements appropriating $13,176,705, including an expected $1,000,000 state grant and authorizing $11,622,576 in bonds or notes.
- Ordinance 25-31: prosecutor's office improvements appropriating $3,097,500 and authorizing $2,950,000 in bonds or notes.
(Ordinances 25-20 through 25-35 were listed in full at the hearing; the clerk read each ordinance number and appropriation amounts into the record.)

What the commission decided: The board took final adoption votes on the listed ordinances and approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting. Multiple second-reading motions and roll-call votes followed the hearings; the clerk recorded each ordinance as passing on final adoption after public hearings on each item. Several roll calls produced unanimous recorded "yes" tallies; where the transcript recorded a tally it was seven yes votes for the measures referred to as passing.

Discussion vs. direction vs. formal action: Commissioners and the county administration discussed program priorities and community benefits during remarks, but the formal actions recorded in the meeting were the motions to adopt the listed ordinances and the roll-call approvals. Ordinance 25-36 was introduced and passed its first reading at the meeting; it will require subsequent readings and formal adoption according to the county ordinance process.

Context and background: Commissioners described the capital program as continuing multi-year maintenance and improvements to county buildings, parks and technical school facilities, and upgrades to the public safety dispatch center used by participating municipalities. Commissioners said some projects are supported by state grants; the clerk read grant amounts and expected grant matches where provided in the ordinance text.

Next steps: Ordinance 25-36 was introduced and passed first reading; several ordinances already passed final adoption and will move to implementation steps managed by county departments and division directors. Specific project implementation, contracting, and grant draws will proceed under department oversight and in accordance with applicable procurement and grant rules.