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Essex County commissioners adopt $451.4 million 2024 budget after public comments on staffing and services
Summary
After public comment from union and law‑enforcement representatives, the Essex County Board adopted its 2024 budget totaling $451,435,000, authorized reading the budget by title and moved on to routine ordinance and contract votes.
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the county’s 2024 budget, approving an appropriation and authorization in the amount of $451,435,000.
Before the vote, the board heard public comment focused on staffing and service delivery in county agencies. Lisa Maddox Douglas, president of the Public Employees Supervisors Union, urged commissioners to pass the budget but requested a detailed line-item breakdown and warned the county is “down approximately 80 employees,” which she said has delayed SNAP and Medicaid case processing. James Troisi, vice president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 106, questioned whether a proposed levy increase was necessary given reductions in debt service and highlighted an unfilled warden post at the county’s largest correctional facility, saying the county has been “1 year plus, without a warden.”
County Treasurer Hassan Mohammed explained that resolution 3 authorized the board to read the budget by title rather than line-by-line to save time; commissioners approved that procedural step before moving to adoption. The clerk read into the record that the budget appropriation and authorization amount for county purposes is $451,435,000.
Commissioners closed the public hearing on the budget and approved Resolution R2024-00239 by roll-call. The board recorded affirmative votes from commissioners present; the budget was adopted and will be entered into the official record as approved.
The meeting proceeded to routine ordinance hearings and other agenda business after the budget vote.
