Morris County adopts 2025 budget, approves up-to-3.5% COLA and introduces bond ordinances for school and college projects

The Morris County Board of Commissioners on a unanimous roll call adopted the 2025 county budget and tax resolution and approved a resolution to increase the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) percentage up to 3.5% and to establish a cap bank.

The COLA action (resolution A) was read by title and opened for public hearing; no members of the public spoke. After the public hearing was closed, the board moved, seconded and voted to adopt the COLA resolution. The clerk recorded affirmative roll-call votes from Director Sellen, Deputy Director Shaw and Commissioners Kirkez, Smith, Cabana, Mastrangelo and Myers.

The board next held a public hearing on the 2025 Morris County budget and tax resolution. The clerk read the resolution by title, including a statement that the local budget met the conditions set forth in NJSA 40:4-8 and that a completed copy of the approved budget had been made available on the county website and to anyone requesting it at least one week prior. With no public comments, the board moved, seconded and adopted the budget and tax resolution by roll call; the same commissioners recorded affirmative votes.

Also during the meeting the board introduced four bond ordinances on first reading by title only: - Ordinance…