Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio says if residents spent $20 more a month at county businesses, more than $40M would be injected into the local economy.
As part of a continuing effort to bolster business and job growth in Burlington County, the board of freeholders recently announced the initiation of a “Buy Local” campaign, to encourage residents to spend more of their retail dollars regionally. In the near term, the Buy Local initiative will be advanced through a marketing and informational plan; the message will be disseminated through interaction with and special events with businesses and business organizations, through the Internet and through regular county publications. “We view this as another economic development tool, aimed at bolstering local business at the cash register, while sending a powerful message to potential new businesses that county government supports economic …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Burlington County gets a clean bill of health from auditors who reviewed the county's accounting of $36.8 million in state and federal funds.
Auditors gave Burlington County’s finances a clean bill of health for the second time this year, this time focusing on the county’s accounting of $36.8 million in state and federal funds in 2011. In the parlance of auditors, the audit prepared by Bowman & Company found no “significant deficiencies, material weaknesses, or instances of noncompliance.” “To put it in plain language, this confirms that our fiscal house is in order,” said Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio. “Our mission has been to reduce taxes and spending, and continue to run programs and services in a fiscally responsible manner. This audit tells us we have accomplished just that.” Garganio noted freeholders received the results of a general audit three months ago that …
Friday, October 12, 2012
Burlington County freeholders presented the Olympic champion with an achievement award.
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio presented an “Extraordinary Achievement Award” to Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd at the recent State of the County Dinner in Cinnaminson. The plaque honors Lloyd, a Delran native, for “bringing great pride to all the citizens of Burlington County” in leading the U.S. women’s soccer team to its third straight Olympic gold medal. Lloyd was part of the team that beat Japan in what turned out to be a rematch of 2011 World Cup final. This time, the U.S. came out on top.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio, a longtime union carpenter with several years experience as an elected official, is seeking his second term on the board of freeholders.
Name : Mr. Bruce David Garganio Date of birth : 02 August 1962 Place of residence : Florence Township Attended college : Yes College : Mansfield University Degree : N/A Year of graduation : N/A Job titles held : Union Carpenter for nearly 30 years Employers : North East Regional Council of Carpenters Party affiliation : Republican Running for a: Local office Running for position: Burlington County Freeholder Incumbent: Yes First elected: November 3, 2009 Previous elective offices : Florence Township Council; Florence School Board Unsuccessful bids for elective offices : N/A Address 223 High Street Mt Holly, NJ 08060 Name : Katie Gibbs Title : Executive Director Website : www.burlcogop.com Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/…
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Burlington County freeholders cut $17.1 million in spending to pass a budget that once again cuts the tax levy and the tax rate.
After cutting $17.1 million in spending, Burlington County freeholders reduced the county tax rate for the 22nd year in a row. Freeholders adopted a $199.8 million budget Wednesday that cuts the amount of tax dollars needed to run county government by $6.2 million, making this the fifth year in a row the tax levy has been reduced. Since 2007, taxes have been cut a total of $14.7 million and spending has been reduced by $26.8 million for the same period. This year’s budget calls for a cut in the county tax rate from 30.96¢ per $100 of equalized valuation to 30.91¢. “These multimillion dollar reductions in taxes and spending did not come easily but, once again, they come at a time when they are needed most,” said Freeholder Director Bruce …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Burlington County freeholders merged the BOEs for the Institute of Technology and Special Services School District to save $405,000.
Burlington County Freeholders last week approved the merger of two county schools under one administration—a move designed to generate cost savings through shared services—by authorizing the consolidation of the school boards into one board. For the past year, freeholders have been “cross-pollinating” the boards of education for the Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Special Services School District by appointing current members to serve on both boards. The process—intended to familiarize everyone with each school district’s operation, mission and program—will reach its final stage on Aug. 23, when the boards will reorganize and consolidate into a single “Board of Education of the Special Services School District and the …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Thanks to Cross County Connection, planning a trip just got easier for Burlington County bus riders.
Burlington County’s BurLink bus routes now are included in public transportation options for transit users when they access Google Maps on the internet. “Just another step in saving us some steps,’’ Freeholder Director Bruce D. Garganio said after watching a presentation from Cross County Connection demonstrating the linkup. Google Maps is a public transportation planning tool that makes the latest agency data accessible to travelers online and on the go. It integrates transit stop, route, schedule and fare information to make trip planning and getting transit directions quick and easy. The county’s six BurLink deviated fixed routes are available to the general public and connect to the River LINE, as well as transfer points with seven NJ …
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Burlington County will begin assessing a $50 processing fee to pay for prisoners' health care costs, which totaled $1.1 million last year.
Following the lead of several other counties in the state, Burlington County Freeholders have given tentative approval to the levying of a $50 processing fee on all inmates committed to the Burlington County Detention Center and Correctional Work Release Center to offset mounting health care costs. Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said the fees, which will be assessed at the time inmates are processed into the jail, are expected to generate upwards of $150,000 in the first year. “In recent years, the annual cost of providing medical care to inmates, including instances of hospitalization, have totaled more than $800,000,” said Garganio. “When all the bills were added up for 2011, that number skyrocketed to $1.1 million.” Once an …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio says he'll press for reforms after rate hike fight with New Jersey American Water.
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said Tuesday’s decision by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to knock down New Jersey American Water’s rate increase “could be called a small victory” for ratepayers. According to a release from the county, American Water came away from its meeting with the BPU with a rate hike less than one-third of the $95 million it originally sought. However, Garganio said as far as he is concerned, “there is still a battle to be waged here.” He said he would press for reforms in the way the public is notified and participates in the process, and that would include reforms for all the state entities involved. “We came away from (Tuesday’s) hearing knowing only that American Water was just awarded $…
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has filed a public records request with the state seeking an explanation of its settlement with New Jersey American Water.
Hoping to find out why a judge has tentatively approved a $30 million rate increase for New Jersey American Water, Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio last week filed an Open Public Records (OPRA) request with the N.J. Division of Rate Counsel requesting a full accounting. “I want to find out how a financial expert’s opinion calling for a $46 million decrease in rates suddenly turned into a $30 million award in additional revenues,” said Garganio. “I think a $76 million swing is worthy of explanation.” Meantime, Garganio has reached out to Robert Hanna, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and demanded the proposed increase be taken up by the entire BPU in an open public session. “We have a petition signed by 11,…
Yah Mo B There
1:54 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
#1 is this a good use of other people’s money (taxes)? I’d like to see the numbers on increased revenue for each dollar spent on this. #2 wouldn’t we all be more apt to buy local if business sold what we want locally? Not because I saw an ad (paid for with other people’s money) telling me to do so. Besides the fact that when what we want is local, it’s usually much cheaper online with no tax and … more ›