Community Corner

State to Reimburse County for Special Elections

Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders expect to receive $1.8 million.

The state will reimburse Monmouth County for all expenses incurred for the special elections to fill New Jersey’s empty U.S. Senate seat.

The county Board of Chosen Freeholders can take a sigh of relief after it approves a resolution for the acceptance and insertion of a special item of revenue to cover the costs of the upcoming special elections at Thursday’s regular meeting.

Director of Finance Craig Marshall received a letter stating that the county will be compensated for “all reasonable and necessary” expenses to hold the election. The special elections will cost approximately $1,850,000, which is the amount the county expects to receive, Marshall said.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The funding will not be provided upfront as the county requested in June, but will be added to the budget as revenue and as a supplement to expenditure, Director Thomas Arnone said.

In the meantime, the county will take money out of surplus to pay for the special elections, he said.

Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Arnone called the funding a “big relief ” and said the Freeholders are “pleased with the decision.”

The $1.8 million will cover the full costs of the election, Director of Finance Craig Marshall said.

Gov. Chris Christie issued a Writ of Election on June 4 stating that local governments will be reimbursed by the state, according to the county's resolution, which amends the 2013 County Budget. As a result, revenue and appropriations rose from $481 million to $482.8 million.

The Freeholders previously asked the state to allow for the funding to be provided upfront, avoiding an emergency appropriation that would ultimately impact next year’s budget and exasperate a cash flow problem.

The county expressed concerns that there might be a shortfall in revenue if the funding was not made available by the end of the year. The state Division of Elections said the budget would be approved as if the funding has been received, even if it’s not yet in the hands of the county, Marshall said.

The insertion of the item of revenue will have to be approved by the Director of the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here