FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2024
CONTACT: Karina Diaz, Hudson County Executive’s Office
PHONE: 201-369-4386
JERSEY CITY, NJ — Today, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy delivered the County’s proposed 2024 Budget Address and highlighted his fiscal priorities for the year ahead.
“I’m proud to say that Hudson County’s fiscal house is strong. Our bond rating is AA- by all standards, the highest quality rating. During my campaign for this position, as well as my first months in office, I’ve promised to make my administration about service and opportunity. And this budget I submit to you focuses on opportunity – opportunity for our country, opportunity for our businesses, and opportunity for our residents,” said Hudson County Executive, Craig Guy. “In this budget, we’ve made responsible choices while continuing to provide the same quality services our county offers.
Hudson County faces challenges, but I’m excited and optimistic about our county’s direction as we take on issues like housing affordability and food insecurity. This budget maintains fiscal responsibility while providing opportunities for our residents.”
For photos of the Budget Address, click here.
The County Executive’s Budget Address, as prepared for delivery:
I’d like to thank the commissioners for allowing me to speak today to present the county budget for this year.
I’d also like to thank Cheryl Fuller, our Director of the Finance and Administration Department, her deputy John Inagaki, and County Administrator, Abe Antun, for their tireless efforts in putting this together. I really do appreciate the hard work you put into this budget.
I’m proud to say that Hudson County’s fiscal house is strong. Our bond rating is AA- by all standards, the highest quality rating.
During my campaign for this position, as well as my first months in office, I’ve promised to make my administration about service and opportunity. And this budget I submit to you focuses on opportunity – opportunity for our country, opportunity for our businesses, and opportunity for our residents.
Last year’s budget reflected that sense of opportunity in our county. In that budget, we were able to fund park improvements, construction of county roads and bridges, classroom renovations, and inmate housing improvements. This year’s budget will do much of the same.
But I do want to take a moment to talk about responsibility, specifically the responsibility we have toward the taxpayers of Hudson County.
In this budget, we’ve made responsible choices while continuing to provide the same quality services our county offers.
We’ve negotiated fair and equitable contracts with our union partners in the civil service. And the county continues to meet its pension obligations for the Police and Fire, Public Employees Retirement System and Hudson County.
Everyday families in Hudson County must be able to balance their household budgets and we need to do the same. That means making tough decisions with how we spend taxpayers’ money.
Two weeks ago, I delivered my State of the County address where I outlined my priorities and future initiatives. And I’m happy to say this budget delivers on many of those priorities.
But I do want to highlight a few specific projects that I’m very excited about.
We’ve allocated $3.5 million to the development of a community center in Mercer Park. This center will provide the public with a multi-purpose room, bathrooms, and a dining area. Construction on this project will begin this year.
The Braddock Park bird sanctuary will be funded in the amount of $3 million dollars once the design is complete.
Our parks will get upgrades to their ballfields, rain gardens, dog runs, picnic areas, and playgrounds. And funding will be provided for the construction and repair of park infrastructure like pavilions and bathrooms.
School funding remains a priority. Hudson County Schools of Technology will be opening a vocational high school academy on the campus of Bayonne High School. This budget provides over $33 million for that school.
Additionally, we continue to provide financial support to Hudson County Community College’s mixed-use academic building, known as the Tower Project.
The county continues to fund that Schools of Technology, and the Hudson County Improvement Authority developed the new technical high school in Secaucus.
Hudson County faces challenges, but I’m excited and optimistic about our county’s direction. This budget will take on issues like housing affordability and food insecurity.
This budget maintains fiscal responsibility while providing opportunities for our residents.