Camden County commissioners introduce 2025 budget, bond ordinance for county college and dozens of contracts; public hearing set for May 15

The Camden County Board of Commissioners on an introductory reading announced the 2025 county budget and introduced a bond ordinance to finance improvements at Camden County College, along with dozens of contracts, grants and appointments spanning public works, parks, corrections and county services.

Director Cappelli read the meeting notice into the record and said, “This meeting has been properly advertised and posted in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act.” He and commissioners then read a list of resolutions and authorizations the board will consider; the board set a public hearing on the budget and bond ordinance for May 15, 2025, at 12 p.m. in the Camden County Courthouse, 520 Market Street, Sixth Floor Meeting Room, Camden, New Jersey.

Why it matters: The introduced budget items and bond ordinance would fund road and infrastructure projects across Camden County, safety and correctional facility upgrades, park and historic-trust grant applications, and countywide contracts for services such as fuel, radio maintenance and lease agreements. Several items state that funding is contingent upon passage of the 2025 temporary or permanent budgets.

Key items introduced

- 2025 Camden County budget: Commissioners announced that the 2025 budget will be read in title only and that a resolution to exceed appropriation limits and establish a cap bank will be considered; the board scheduled a public hearing on the budget for May 15, 2025. (No final budget vote was recorded at this meeting.)

- Bond ordinance for Camden County College: A bond ordinance was introduced appropriating $3,336,653 and providing for issuance of bonds or notes in that amount to finance various improvements at Camden County College; a public hearing on the bond ordinance is scheduled for May 15, 2025. (No final vote on the ordinance was recorded at this meeting.)

Notable public-works and capital items read into the record

- Replacement of a water main on Haddon Avenue (Newton Avenue to Euclid): $3,073,400 (chapter 159 funds from the City of Camden). - NJDOT county-aid funds (FY2025 county aid ATP program): $8,666,652. - Roundabout construction management and inspection at Ariel Road and Sickleville Road, Winslow Township: $369,371.09 (Traffic Planning and Design Inc.). - Camden County roadway safety improvements (bid B/2020-2/2025) in multiple municipalities: $650,475.40 (Jay Fletcher Creamer and Sons Inc.). - Rehabilitation of Andrews Road bridges in Winslow Township: $155,248 (Richard E. Pearson Construction Co., Inc.). - Reimbursement for easements related to Berlin Cross Keys Road improvements: total $10,000 in payments to property owners. - Shared-service and design agreements for traffic signal and pedestrian improvements, including a $499,075 shared-service agreement with Cherry Hill Township for Crescent Road signal improvements and an $81,450 reimbursement agreement with Haddonfield for Kings Highway design and pedestrian work.

Public-safety, corrections and technology items

- Camden County Correctional Facility: substitution of funds and project authorizations for fire suppression system upgrades ($99,500) and main water boiler replacement ($175,734). - Agreements for contract monitoring and equipment purchases at correctional and juvenile facilities, including $132,000 for contract monitoring services (partly contingent on budget approval) and $47,455.52 for intercom equipment (SHI International Court). - Radio system maintenance state contract with Motorola Solutions Inc.: $370,250.09.

Parks, historic trust and grant activity

- Lease and concession authorizations at the Camden Waterfront and contracts for park improvements, including Bonita Park phases 2 and 3: $4,147,160. - Submission of a New Jersey Historic Trust capital grant application: $334,837. - Submission of a New Jersey DOT transportation alternative set-aside grant application: $1,500,000.

Other notable items

- Affordable housing federal HOME funds award (VOADV Properties Inc.): $750,000. - High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant submission: $763,040. - Purchase of a “robotic dog” (bid award to Raidco Inc.): $293,300. - Purchase of 30 ALPR Scout software licenses (state contract with Dell Marketing LP): $80,070. - Various state-contract fuel and lease agreements (e.g., Majestic Oil Co.; Colonial Lane LLC warehouse lease) and appointments to county boards and commissions.

Public process and next steps

Several resolutions and contract awards announced during the meeting specify that funding is contingent on passage of the 2025 temporary or permanent budgets. The board set an advertised public hearing on the introduced 2025 budget and the Camden County College bond ordinance for May 15, 2025, at 12 p.m. in the Camden County Courthouse. No final votes on the budget or the bond ordinance were recorded during this meeting.

Procedural actions

The board closed its public comment period by voice vote and adopted a closed-session resolution under the Open Public Meetings Act to discuss personnel matters; the board later reported that closed session had concluded and stated there was no further public action. A motion to adjourn was approved and the meeting ended.

Ending: The board did not take final action on the introduced budget or bond ordinance at this meeting; those items remain scheduled for public hearing and further consideration on May 15, 2025.