Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for a terrific celebration of county government. It was great seeing you for the first time in over two long years, and special thanks to Governor Phil Murphy and Republican Candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli for taking a break from the campaign trail to recognize county government for the critical and growing role it plays in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of residents across the Garden State.  Please also take a moment to congratulate our 2021 award recipients for their continued and very much appreciated public service....

New Jersey homeowners and renters affected by Hurricane Ida who live in counties that have recently been designated for Individual Assistance could be eligible for help from FEMA. The designated counties are: Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for federal assistance. The fastest and easiest way to apply is by visiting disasterassistance.gov/ or b...

President Biden approved New Jersey’s Major Disaster Declaration request under the Stafford Act, unlocking additional federal aid for New Jersey constituents and governments. The Major Disaster Declaration was granted to the State of NJ (providing some funding to all 21 counties - restrictions apply) as well as to 6 NJ Counties (i.e. Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Somerset). This is NOT the final list of designated counties. FEMA and the NJ Office of Emergency Management (OEM) are currently on the ground in additional counties working around the clock to finish preliminar...

06/29/2021 Fiscally Responsible Plan includes a Record Pension Payment, Sizable Surplus, Substantial Debt Reduction, and Long-Term Economic Investments Budget Makes New Jersey More Affordable by Delivering Historic Levels of School Funding, Substantial Tax Relief, and Aid to Small Businesses WOODBRIDGE – Governor Phil Murphy signed the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) Appropriations Act into law today, working in partnership with the Legislature to develop a responsible and bold budget that meets the State’s current and future obligations, makes New Jersey more affordable for working and mid...

On June 21, 2021, Assembly Bill No. 5870 was introduced by Assemblywoman Pintor Marin and Assemblyman Burzichelli.  This bill is an Act making appropriations for the support of the New Jersey State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 and regulating disbursement. FY 2022 Assembly Bill No. 5870 FY 2022 Budget Resolutions Language Changes FY 2022 Appropriations Bill as Introduced Scoresheet The Legislature is expected to pass these the week of June 21, 2021, and of which, Governor Murphy will sign into law.

by Collen O'Dea, Senior Writer of NJ Spotlight News May 28, 2021 New estimate for in-person voting ahead of November election is higher than earlier cost projection. State cautions that the true cost is unknown. A new estimate by county officials working with the state Division of Elections puts the likely cost of New Jersey’s first statewide early voting this fall at about $83 million and counting, while the state has budgeted just half that amount so far. A spokeswoman for the Division of Elections cautioned that the amount is still only an estimate that has not been embraced by...

by Colleen O'Dea, Senior Writer for NJ Spotlight News - NJ Decides 2021, Politics March 18, 2021 - Lawmakers want it in place for November’s elections. But there are major tech hurdles and there’s not enough money, county officials say. New Jersey is on the brink of permitting true early voting with people using machines to cast votes beginning with the election in November when the governor and all 120 seats in the Legislature are on the ballot. County election officials, however, say the state isn’t ready. Clerks and election supervisors have a litany of issues with the legislative...

Investing in a Stronger, Fairer, and More Resilient Post-Pandemic New Jersey 02/23/2021 Proposal Includes First Full Pension Payment in More than 25 Years, Highest Level of School Funding Ever, Robust Tax Relief, and a $200 Million Small Business Relief Initiative TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy delivered his fourth annual budget address on Tuesday, outlining a responsible spending proposal for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022) that includes critical investments to help New Jersey emerge from the pandemic stronger, fairer, and more resilient, while making a full pension payment for the first ti...

The New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) recently concluded its Spring 2021 COVID-19 Virtual Workshop Series.  There were (7) 60-minute long sessions focused on COVID-19 and other county related matters such as vaccine distribution, federal funding, mandatory testing and vaccination by employers, medication assisted treatment services, election challenges, mental health resources, and foreclosure sales.  NJAC secured continuing education credits for all workshops and continuing legal education credits for workshops conducted on March 10th and April 7th.   If you have not received your C...

My fellow New Jerseyans. I don’t need to tell you these are different times. So, this is a different kind of speech. Instead of delivering this address in a crowded state house, I’m standing in an empty theater. Yet for all the changes, the most important things remain constant. Our values. Our priorities. Our vision. And that we are all New Jerseyans. The stories we just heard have echoed across our state for the better part of the past year. They are stories that show our grit and reveal our heart. They echo the pain of 2020 and they preview the hope of 2021. They are tied with a comm...