County manager presents 2026 executive budget as commissioners adopt a bundle of resolutions

Union County's county manager presented the 2026 executive budget and described a period of "significant fiscal pressure" that frames the board's decisions as it adopted a package of resolutions.

County Manager Oman told the board that federal supports that help county services have been cut; SNAP funding is "down several million dollars this year with an additional seven million reduction anticipated next year," and the county faces a "21% combined increase in health and prescription benefit costs for 2026." The manager said those rising fixed costs and possible further federal reductions necessitate disciplined action and that the proposed executive budget includes a 2% increase in the tax levy. The transcript records the proposed total as "547,110,3623," a figure that appears garbled in the record.

During the public-comment period Bruce Patterson of Garwood criticized proposed layoffs and the tax increase, citing "about $180 million in free cash" and asking for detail on several resolutions on the agenda, including contracts and grants. County staff responded to specific questions about contracts and appropriations: an on-call architect contract (Reso 145) has no set assignment; towns are required by law to maintain their own websites so notices cannot be centralized on the county site (Reso 146 question); reimbursements to the Union County Performing Arts Center are described as fronted by the county and later reimbursed; and the transfer authorized under Reso 2026-167 was explained as required under state statute to cover health benefit shortfalls.

The director who answered budget-transfer questions cited the statutory authority (NJSA 48:4-59 as read in the meeting) and gave a transfer amount in the record written as "5,936,8454" (the transcript record is garbled). The board also discussed a four-year collective bargaining agreement noted as carrying a 3% (apparently annual) increase under Reso 178, and a personnel-related settlement (Reso 181) that the county attorney said would be largely covered by insurance.

After discussion, the board moved to adopt Resolutions 2026-143 through 2026-193 by roll call; the clerk recorded eight affirmative votes and the resolutions were adopted.

What happens next: The county will advance the executive budget toward introduction (chair indicated an expected introduction in March) while implementing adopted resolutions; commissioners and staff said they will continue work to identify operational efficiencies and shared services to mitigate fiscal pressure.

Quoted remarks in this article are taken from the meeting record and attributed to speakers who spoke on the record.