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On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at their bi-monthly meeting, the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2025 budget. This year’s budget both preserves and expands vital services for Somerset County’s residents while also maintaining the County’s important AAA Bond Rating.
“Being able to provide services to Somerset County residents and meet them where they are remains my, and my fellow commissioners, first priority,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson. “It is imperative, in the current economic and political climate, that the diverse residents of Somerset County feel safe, supported, heard and seen, and are able to easily access the robust services that our County provides. We have carefully considered all aspects of need in the County and are pleased to announce the launch and continuation of indispensable services for individuals, families, small business owners, our educational institutions, corporate partners, and anyone who calls Somerset County home.”
The amended budget of $284,571,600 is up 5% from 2024 and includes $239,705,606 to be raised through property taxes. The average county home valued at $590,863 (up $41,011 from 2024) will see an annual increase of $79.38 in the County’s portion of their property tax bill. The tax rate will decline by 2.29% to .2822 from .2888 per $100 of assessed home value. The County’s total assessed real property value is more than $85 billion, up 8.35% from last year and more than 32% since 2021.
The County will continue to partially fund its affiliated agencies including the County Vocational Technical High School, Raritan Valley Community College, Somerset County Park Commission, Social Services, and Somerset County Business Partnership.
The budget additionally will fund significant infrastructure, including the 38 parks and open space areas which span across 15,000 acres, over 248 miles of county roads, and 752 bridges; high-performing public health services, 911 communications, emergency response, and training capabilities; and the Sheriff’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Corrections Facilities.
Additionally, the County launched a county-wide community outreach program aimed at directly engaging our residents within their communities. This direct outreach will connect residents with vital services such as behavioral health, food insecurity support, and more.
The budget includes nearly 200 shared services with our municipalities and Board of Educations that save taxpayer dollars:
The County budget will support:
Wellness Initiatives: Our Health Department will be completing their Public Health Accreditation which will allow our expert staff to further improve health outcomes for our communities. Our Richard Hall Community Health and Wellness Center will be completing construction of an on-site pharmacy to better serve clients. And, our Human Services Department will be continuing to serve residents by responsibly allocating opioid settlement dollars to vital local community services and groups, as well as will be launching a Mobile Harm Reduction (HEAL) van to support individuals who have a substance use disorder.
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About Somerset County
The County of Somerset is committed to excellence and innovation in public service, promoting the well-being of all residents and communities by providing effective, efficient, and responsive leadership.