2. Eliminate County Government

3. How many departments/divisions are in Bergen County government? a. 23 b. 48 c. 64 d. 96 10

4. How many people are employed by Bergen County? a.500 b.1200 c.2200 d.3000 10

5. How many Freeholders are in Bergen County? 10 a.5 b.7 c.12 d.22

6. What is the annual debt service of Bergen County? a.$2,000,000 b.$23,000,000 c.$58,000,000 d.$250,000,000 10

7. Eliminate County Government Framework Background Facts/Figures Public Opinion How Would We Actually Eliminate County Government

8. Eliminate County Government What County Government looks like?

9. Eliminate County Government

10. Background

11. Eliminate County Government Figures 10% of our property tax dollars go to the County $500,000,000 budget $58,000,000 debt service $147,000,000 salaries and wages $238,000,000 “other expenses” 2200 work for Bergen County 5 5

12. Eliminate County Government Where do Your Taxes Go?

13. Eliminate County Government Budget Allocation  $500,000,000 budget  $58,000,000 debt service  $147,000,000 salaries and wages  $238,000,000 “other expenses”  $500,000,000 budget  $58,000,000 debt service  $147,000,000 salaries and wages  $238,000,000 “other expenses” 5 5

14. Eliminate County Government Facts Most states have strong local or county government Local property taxes paid to the County have NO direct impact on property values Sharing services can save money and increase efficiencies

15. Eliminate County Government Nearly one in four Bergen County employees makes $100k+ per year County tax levy has increased by 51% since 2003 (larger % increase than schools, municipalities, state during the same timeframe) Many of the highest paid non-law enforcement positions are political appointees (members of the Political Party Organizations) 5 5 5 5

16. Eliminate County Government Public Opinion Under-utilized & non-responsive Removed or invisible Unaccountable Duplicative services

17. Eliminate County Government Precedent Connecticut Massachusetts Rhode Island Westchester County, New York (proposed) ² ² ³ ³

18. Why Eliminate County Government? Remove a layer of government Save money without loss of services Decrease duplication of services Enhance private/public partnerships

19. How to Eliminate County Government

20. Requirements 1. Amendment to the state constitution 2. Address negotiated labor contracts 3. Engaged citizens - grass roots support 4. Visionary Leaders

21. Leadership Traits 1. Bold & courageous leaders 2. A leader with: Brains, guts, passion & purpose Someone with a proven track record for instituting change!

22. Eliminate County Government Voters of Bergen County Clerk to Board Counsel to Board County Administrator County Clerk Surrogate Public Safety County Sheriff LawHealth Services Human Services Planning & Economic Development Parks Administration & Finance Public Works State Appointments Board of Chosen FreeholdersCounty Executive

23. Eliminate County Government New Model for Local Government EliminatedTo StateTo Towns Board of Chosen Freeholders LawPlanning County ExecHuman ServicesParks Board ClerkHealth Services Counsel to BoardSheriff & County Police County Administrator County Clerk Admin & FinanceCounty Surrogate Public Works

24. Eliminate County Government Example: Eliminate County Executive, Freeholders & County Clerk

25. Eliminate County Government Savings = $ $ 8 8 5 5

26. Eliminate County Government Example: Public Works

27. Eliminate County Government $ $ Savings = million 5 5

28. Eliminate County Government Savings = 26 million 52 52 million 5 5

29. Eliminate County Government Impact Savings of approximately $130 million from reallocating the work More accountable, visible, responsive government 5 5

30. Eliminate County Government Impact Natural evolution toward shared services More involved citizens Greater return on our tax dollars

31. Eliminate County Government Thank you

32. Many thanks to: Lynn Algrant Ben Brody Todd Caliguire Ronald Calissi Hon.Governor Richard Codey William Corcoran Bobbie Anne Flower Cox Timothy Dacey Paul Feiner Dr. Ken Gabbert Brian Hague Deborah Herr Sophie Heymann Richard Loveless Gloria Martini Bob Meyerson

33. Many Thanks To: Leo McGuire Amanda Missey Maureen Moakley Ridgefield Park Board of Commissioners Ridgefield Park Village Clerk, Police Captain, DPW Superintendent, Village Attorney Christopher Rutishauser Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan William “Pat” Schuber Mike Seedon Sam Spina James Troisi

34. References 1. 1. McNerney, D. (2010, March 03). State of the County address 2010. Retrieved from http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/countyreport.html http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/countyreport.html 2. 2. County Government in Connecticut: 1. 1. Its History and Demise by Rosaline Levinson 2. 2. Connecticut Legislative Librarian, Linda Moral 3. 3. Professor Maryann Baraski, University of Massachusetts 4. 4. Rethinking Westchester Government, Initials. (n.d.). States without County government. Retrieved from http://www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com/http://www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com/ 5. 5. The slides that reference dollars currently being spent or the “estimated savings” were taken from the Bergen County website (http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/) or provided by Brian Hague at the Bergen County Executive’s office.http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/