ESSEX COUNTY — The state of Essex County rests in large part on what comes next, particularly in Trenton, County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., said during his annual address tonight. Although DiVincenzo said austere budgeting and new sources of revenue are helping the county endure the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, he emphasized that the county’s...
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo in this 2010 file photo.ESSEX COUNTY — The state of Essex County rests in large part on what comes next, particularly in Trenton, County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., said during his annual address tonight.
Although DiVincenzo said austere budgeting and new sources of revenue are helping the county endure the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, he emphasized that the county’s ability to weather the next few years will depend on reforms hammered out in the state Legislature.
As he has for years, DiVincenzo said lawmakers must tackle runaway pension and health-care costs lest they bankrupt both the state and local governments.
"Conversations being held at the state level to deal with these issues should have no party affiliation or partisanship," DiVincenzo said during his 38-minute address, his first since being re-elected last year to an unprecedented third term. "These are not comfortable conversations, but the bank is broken and the time has come to put everything on the table."
Despite the poor economy, which has wreaked havoc on the county’s investments and other revenues, DiVincenzo said the county forged ahead with its infrastructure and recreational improvements.
The bulk of DiVincenzo’s address to about 400 people at the county’s hospital center in Cedar Grove focused on several refurbishment or construction projects – among them, Turtle Back Zoo, the Hall of Records, the hospital center, the county jail and park improvements – undertaken during his tenure. Several of those have helped generate additional – and needed – funds.
But foremost among the revenue streams carved during DiVincenzo’s tenure is the accord with the federal government that brings prisoners and immigration detainees to county correctional facilities. Last year, the agreement – what DiVincenzo called "a partnership" – generated about $22 million for the county.
The county could realize at least twice that amount this year: DiVincenzo said county officials and the federal officials Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are hammering out details of an agreement that could bring upward of 1,000 additional detainees to county facilities by the end of the year.
An average of about 465 detainees are currently housed in the county at $105 a day.
Still, DiVincenzo cautioned toward the end of his address, "the fiscal storm is not over. The fiscal storm is not over."
Previous coverage:
• Essex County executive says his rapport with Christie brings benefits to county
• Essex authorities refuse to reinstate officers to county jail administrative posts
• Essex County Executive DiVincenzo says he intends to run for fourth term
• Christie, Booker and other N.J. political bigwigs turn out to see Essex County executive be sworn in
• Essex County executive suggests N.J. employees should contribute more to health benefits