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 2025-28: bond ordinance to replace the roof at Building No. 4 for the Morris County School of Technology, appropriating $1,560,000 and authorizing issuance of $1,485,000 in bonds or notes; introduced by motion and approved on first reading by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-29: bond ordinance providing for the design and construction of a new building for the County College of Morris, appropriating $3,008,549 and authorizing issuance of $3,008,549 in bonds or notes; introduced by motion and approved on first reading by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-30: bond ordinance providing for the design and construction of a new building for the County College of Morris, appropriating $1,451,000 and authorizing issuance of $1,451,000 in bonds or notes; introduced by motion and approved on first reading by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-31: amendment to a prior capital improvement fund ordinance to include purchase and installation of cameras for MAPS vehicles for the Department of Human Services, Division of Community Assistance and Resources; introduced by motion and approved on first reading by roll call.

One ordinance was before the board on second reading and adoption. Ordinance 2025-27, a bond ordinance amending the project description of a prior bond ordinance (originally adopted July 27, 2016), was opened for public hearing; no public comments were received and the board adopted the ordinance on second and final reading by roll call.

The board also approved routine business items including minutes and four communications on the agenda, a package of resolutions, and payment of bills. The clerk recorded roll calls for those motions; the transcript records the motions as approved. The clerk noted during the roll call on the resolutions package that there were some abstentions on specific items; the transcript does not specify precise counts for each listed resolution in the package.

Commissioner Deb Smith thanked colleagues and county staff for their work on the budget, singling out the finance department and CFO Betty Bauer. "Great job," Smith said, and thanked the finance team led by "the indomitable Betty Bauer, our CFO." The meeting then adjourned.

Votes at a glance - Resolution A (COLA up to 3.5% and establish cap bank): Adopted (roll-call recorded: Director Sellen — yes; Deputy Director Shaw — yes; Commissioners Kirkez, Smith, Cabana, Mastrangelo, Myers — yes). - 2025 Morris County budget and tax resolution: Adopted (clerk read compliance with NJSA 40:4-8; roll-call recorded: Director Sellen — yes; Deputy Director Shaw — yes; Commissioners Kirkez, Smith, Cabana, Mastrangelo, Myers — yes). - Ordinance 2025-28 (Morris County School of Technology roof replacement, appropriation $1,560,000): Introduced on first reading, approved for introduction by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-29 (County College of Morris new building, appropriation $3,008,549): Introduced on first reading, approved for introduction by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-30 (County College of Morris new building, appropriation $1,451,000): Introduced on first reading, approved for introduction by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-31 (capital improvement fund amendment to purchase/install cameras for MAPS vehicles): Introduced on first reading, approved for introduction by roll call. - Ordinance 2025-27 (amend bond ordinance project description; second and final reading): Adopted by roll call. - Minutes, communications (4 items), resolutions package and payment of bills: Approved (transcript notes abstentions on specific resolutions in the package but does not specify item-level counts).

The board did not receive any written public comments prior to the meeting, and no members of the public spoke during the public-hearing portions of the agenda.