Essex County commissioners introduce 2025 budget, set for later adoption with 1.99% tax increase

The Essex County Board of County Commissioners voted to introduce the County of Essex 2025 budget, which county officials said would result in a 1.99% increase in the tax levy — an increase they described in the meeting as “just below 2%” and approximately a $9 million increase in levy revenue.

County Treasurer/Administrator Hossam Mohammed and budget staff summarized the introduction, noting that the board previously held multi-day budget hearings in January to review departmental requests. Counsel and finance staff said required adjustments had been made following those hearings and recommended moving the budget forward to introduction.

“Whatever adjustments had to be made were made,” a county official told the board, and the tax increase is “a smidgen below 2%, 1.99%,” described elsewhere in the meeting as equating to roughly $9 million in additional tax levy. Commissioners voted to move the budget for introduction by roll call.

The introduction begins the formal public adoption process. Board members did not debate a change in policy during the motion; they noted the budget had been vetted at earlier hearings and moved forward the process for formal adoption at a later meeting.