Mercer County Executive Dan Benson recently delivered his year-end State of the County address, reflecting on a year of progress and ongoing challenges for the county government.
Speaking to a crowd of about 200 at a Princeton-Mercer Regional Chamber event in Trenton, Benson emphasized financial recovery, improved public services and infrastructure investments during his first year in office.
Benson highlighted his administration’s early challenges, including mismanagement in county finances, outdated infrastructure and stalled labor negotiations.
“When we took office in January, we knew that our county government faced some serious challenges. It quickly became clear that these problems were in many ways much bigger than anticipated,” Benson said.
He said that problems ranging from missing audits to overdue contracts and rising costs showed that the financial problems his administration inherited were systemic.
One of the most pressing issues, Benson said, was that the county’s chief financial officer was removed in 2022 after it was discovered that he lacked the proper credentials for the role. This led to an investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office into the county’s financial practices.
Additionally, a report by the State Comptroller revealed that the county had incurred nearly $4.5 million in penalties for late payroll tax payments and missed more than $10 million in state aid filings. Benson said these financial missteps compounded over time, leading to severe penalties and missed opportunities for funding.
Benson spoke about other critical issues, including the delayed audits for 2022 and 2023, which led to even more financial uncertainty. He said many important financial documents were missing or incomplete, making it difficult to assess the true state of the county’s finances.
“There were significant operating budget issues due to poor internal controls, resulting in $11 million of over-expenditures from 2022 that needed to be addressed in my first budget year, and more from 2023 that will impact next year’s budget,” Benson said.
The county was also grappling with escalating costs, including $5.8 million in debt service, $2.9 million in inmate medical costs for corrections, and $2.4 million for youth detention.
Benson said another major problem was that a number of the county’s 19 collective bargaining units were working under expired agreements, some dating back to 2019. He said that they’ve negotiated and settled seven labor contracts through Dec. 31 and are currently working to settle all outstanding contracts by the first quarter of 2025.
The county also lacked a formal plan to fund necessary capital improvements, putting critical projects at risk.
He said that “as a band-aid,” the previous administration used $12 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds as a one-time fix to plug the budget holes, “money that could and should have gone to aiding our countywide recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
To address these challenges, Benson said his administration took several steps to stabilize the county’s finances. Audits for 2022 and 2023 were completed, and the county moved forward with a $153 million bond anticipation note for 2024. In addition, a $4 million bond sale helped bolster the county’s financial position.
A key move, according to Benson, was the modernization of the county’s financial system. The outdated software used by the previous administration was replaced, and the county implemented standardized procedures for finance, personnel, and procurement to prevent similar issues in the future.
Benson also noted that his office had made progress on labor negotiations, settling seven contracts through the end of 2024, with plans to resolve all outstanding agreements by the first quarter of next year.
Benson acknowledged that his administration’s first budget included a necessary tax increase to address the county’s financial problems. However, he stressed that the move was essential to preserve services, maintain the county’s credit rating and meet long-term goals.
Benson praised the newly formed Department of Community Services for its efforts to support residents. He cited the distribution of over 100,000 meals to seniors, expanded housing programs, and grants for playground improvements.
They also distributed some $80,000 dollars in Senior Farmers Market Benefits to 1,600 low-income older adults, enabling them to access healthy fresh foods.
The county’s partnership with organizations like the Rescue Mission of Trenton and the Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness resulted in the launch of a first-in-the-state respite program for medically vulnerable individuals without housing, he said.
Benson also underscored the administration’s focus on economic development. The county extended its zero-interest loan program, benefiting 65 small businesses, many of which are minority or women-owned. The county also expanded its Route 130 shuttle service to connect more residents with jobs in neighboring Middlesex County.
In public safety, Benson highlighted updates to Mercer County’s 911 system and the development of shared services agreements for hazardous materials response. Emergency preparedness training was another priority, with multiple active shooter drills conducted during the year.
On infrastructure, Benson announced several large projects, including the replacement of the Lincoln Avenue Bridge in Trenton, a new firehouse at Trenton-Mercer Airport, and upgrades at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
Said Benson: “We are investing $25 million dollars in ballpark upgrades as part of our effort to bring back an affiliated Minor League Baseball team to Mercer County, and thanks to the support of Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli and our legislative delegations we have already received $6.5 million dollars from the State to help fund this project.”
Benson also shared details on his administration’s effort to modernize and reorganize county government following professional assessments of critical areas. He talked about the county’s technology upgrades, improved communication and processes, and the creation of new county divisions to serve Mercer residents, including offices of LGBTQIA Affairs, Food Security, and Travel and Tourism.
He said the administration is also focusing on building stronger collaborative relationships with municipalities. “We’re always looking for new opportunities for cooperation, whether through a renewed emphasis on shared service agreements, or by using county assets to fill a need in municipal government.”
Some of these initiatives include:
Working with Hamilton Township to protect Kuser Woods from development, and with Princeton to help purchase and preserve land with rare forestry and links to other open space parcels;
Utilizing state grant funds to develop a grant for small businesses in Hightstown;
Filling gaps in municipal staffing by arranging for the county health officer to serve as the health official for Hopewell Township, and then the City of Trenton.
Working with Hopewell Borough to lower speed limits on Rt. 518 and Rt. 654 (Louellen and Broad streets), and with Hamilton Township to lower speed limits on South Broad and Church streets and on Yardville-Allentown Road;
Playing a key role in the construction of the new Hamilton Township Municipal Complex and school administration building through the Mercer County Improvement Authority.
Loaning an ADA accessible shuttle to West Windsor Township’s Senior Services after they had to decommission a bus for repair; and
Expanding the number of municipal road resurfacing projects across Mercer County using in-house staff to help save taxpayers and the municipalities from having to procure for the work.
Benson summarized his remarks, “Our administration had a full plate this year, and even with our many obstacles, we have accomplished a lot for Mercer.”
“The work is far from over and we need your help and input. There will be more tough decisions ahead,” he said. “But we’re on the right track. Together, we will make Mercer County government something we can be proud of. We will make county government work for everyone.”
