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Eliminate County Government

Eliminate County Government. How many departments/divisions are in Bergen County government?. 10. a. 23 b. 48 c. 64 d. 96. How many people are employed by Bergen County?. a. 500 b. 1200 c. 2200 d. 3000. 10. How many Freeholders are in Bergen County?. a. 5 b. 7 c. 12 d. 22.

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Eliminate County Government

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  1. Eliminate County Government

  2. How many departments/divisions are in Bergen County government? 10 a. 23 b. 48 c. 64 d. 96

  3. How many people are employed by Bergen County? a. 500 b. 1200 c. 2200 d. 3000 10

  4. How many Freeholders are in Bergen County? a. 5 b. 7 c. 12 d. 22 10

  5. What is the annual debt service of Bergen County? a. $2,000,000 b. $23,000,000 c. $58,000,000 d. $250,000,000 10

  6. Framework Background Facts/Figures Public Opinion How Would We Actually Eliminate County Government

  7. What County Government looks like?

  8. Background

  9. Figures 10% of our property tax dollars go to the County $500,000,000 budget $58,000,000 debt service $147,000,000 salaries and wages $238,000,000 “other expenses” 2200 work for Bergen County 5

  10. Where do Your Taxes Go?

  11. Budget Allocation 5 • $500,000,000 budget • $58,000,000 debt service • $147,000,000 salaries and wages • $238,000,000 “other expenses”

  12. Facts Most states have strong local or county government Local property taxes paid to the County have NO direct impact on property values Sharing services can save money and increase efficiencies

  13. Nearly one in four Bergen County employees makes $100k+ per year County tax levy has increased by 51% since 2003 (larger % increase than schools, municipalities, state during the same timeframe) Many of the highest paid non-law enforcement positions are political appointees (members of the Political Party Organizations) 5 5

  14. Public Opinion Under-utilized & non-responsive Removed or invisible Unaccountable Duplicative services

  15. Precedent Connecticut Massachusetts Rhode Island Westchester County, New York (proposed) ² ³

  16. Why Eliminate County Government? • Remove a layer of government • Save money without loss of services • Decrease duplication of services • Enhance private/public partnerships

  17. How to Eliminate County Government

  18. Requirements • Amendment to the state constitution • Address negotiated labor contracts • Engaged citizens - grass roots support • Visionary Leaders

  19. Leadership Traits Someone with a proven track record for instituting change! • Bold & courageous leaders • A leader with: Brains, guts, passion & purpose

  20. Board of Chosen Freeholders County Executive County Clerk Clerk to Board Counsel to Board County Administrator Surrogate County Sheriff Law Planning & Economic Development Health Services Human Services Parks Voters of Bergen County Administration & Finance Public Works Public Safety State Appointments

  21. New Model for Local Government

  22. Example: Eliminate County Executive, Freeholders & County Clerk

  23. Savings = 8 8 $ 5 

  24. Example: Public Works

  25. $ Savings = 5 million

  26. Savings = 26 million 52 5 52 52 million

  27. Impact Savings of approximately $130 million from reallocating the work More accountable, visible, responsive government 5

  28. Impact Natural evolution toward shared services More involved citizens Greater return on our tax dollars

  29. Thank you

  30. Lynn Algrant Ben Brody Todd Caliguire Ronald Calissi Hon.Governor Richard Codey William Corcoran Bobbie Anne Flower Cox Timothy Dacey Paul Feiner Dr. Ken Gabbert Brian Hague Deborah Herr Sophie Heymann Richard Loveless Gloria Martini Bob Meyerson Many thanks to:

  31. Leo McGuire Amanda Missey Maureen Moakley Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners Ridgefield Park Village Clerk, Police Captain, DPW Superintendent, Village Attorney Christopher Rutishauser Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan William “Pat” Schuber Mike Seedon Sam Spina James Troisi Many Thanks To:

  32. References • McNerney, D. (2010, March 03). State of the County address 2010. Retrieved from http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/countyreport.html • County Government in Connecticut: • Its History and Demise by Rosaline Levinson • Connecticut Legislative Librarian, Linda Moral • Professor Maryann Baraski, University of Massachusetts • Rethinking Westchester Government, Initials. (n.d.). States without County government. Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com/ • The slides that reference dollars currently being spent or the “estimated savings” were taken from the Bergen County website (http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/) or provided by Brian Hague at the Bergen County Executive’s office.

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