Passaic County leaders outline 2025 budget strategy, set public hearing and add construction contract to consent agenda

Passaic County officials on Feb. 11 presented the county's 2025 budget framework, describing steps taken over recent years to stabilize taxes, grow reserves and fund new senior and veterans services. During the meeting the Board of County Commissioners set a public hearing on the 2025 budget and added a late contract award for site improvements at the Lindbergh Castle Carriage House Complex to the consent agenda.

County staff told the board that because federal American Rescue Plan Act funds had to be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024, the county began 2025 facing about a $30 million revenue shortfall that staff expect to address through conservative revenue assumptions, increased fund balance and continued cost controls. Officials said the county ended the previous year with roughly $113 million in fund balance, up from about $34 million in 2015.

The presentation noted a multi-year pattern the county credits for keeping the effective county tax rate lower despite rising property values: an average tax-levy increase of 0.64% over nine years and the county's fifth consecutive year at an AA1 credit rating. Staff described the larger fund balance and reserves as giving the county flexibility to respond to unexpected events, including public-health…