Click to see video of Mr. McNerney's address.

Dennis McNerney delivering State of the County Address

Good evening. I want to thank my friends, colleagues, dignitaries, Bergen County citizens, and especially my wife, Catherine and children, Kevin and Julia, for joining me tonight as I present the 2010 State of the County address.

I also want to thank Dr. Gerry Ryan and his staff for hosting us here at Bergen Community College.
In these tough economic times, it is important that our students can still receive a quality college education at a reasonable price.

And, I am proud to say that since opening our new south Bergen Campus in Lyndhurst, enrollment has increased by about 2,000 students.

The young men and women studying at BCC are our future leaders whose ideas and ingenuity will keep Bergen County moving forward for generations, and I'm proud to do all that we can to help them achieve their goals.

I have lived in Bergen County all of my life. I grew up in Teaneck, went to grammar school in Bogota, and attended Bergen Catholic. My wife went to River Dell High School in River Edge. Now we live in Ho-Ho-Kus with our children.

Throw in Little League, Girl Scouts, and play dates, and you will see that we have ties to every part of Bergen County.

My family is attached to the County because we know that Bergen is the best place to raise our family.
As County Executive, I promise that I will continue to do all that I can to make Bergen County the best place to raise YOUR families.

We have the best public schools in the state, including the Bergen County Academies, one of the top 10 high schools in the nation.

We also have very little crime in Bergen County because of our specialized and dedicated law enforcement personnel.

And, our county's recreational opportunities are second to none in the state.
Bergen County is, and will remain, a great place for us all.

But the times, unfortunately, have made life a bit more difficult for so many of our friends, family, and neighbors.

For quite some time, we have been bombarded with bad news.
But, whether it has been the poor economy, political unrest around the globe, or natural disasters, the worst tends to bring out the best in us.

And, that applies to Bergen County.

Over the past seven years, we have seen some great things happening in the County.
In the area of Public Safety, we have seen violent crime plummet by 15% and overall crime decline by 9%.
One reason is our Sheriff's Department has partnered with the United Way to reduce the rate of repeat offenders in Bergen County.

We are a few months removed from opening a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Dispatch center in Mahwah that will lower dispatch costs for local communities.

This center will also be the home of the county's trunk radio system that will allow first responders from across the county to share one communications channel during regional emergencies.
The County's Office of Consumer Protection has secured over $1.5 million in restitution for our residents from unscrupulous merchants.

And, even during these difficult times, we improved many of our recreational facilities throughout the County.

One of our great accomplishments was the completion of the Bergen County Sportsplex in Palisades Park.

The state-of-the-art football, track, baseball, softball, Little League, and Challenger fields are enjoyed by thousands of children and their families every spring and summer.

We also purchased a golf course that has been a tremendous success with the county's 21,000 registered golfers who play over 200,000 rounds of golf each season.

But, I believe our crowning achievement was capping the former Overpeck Landfill and transforming it into one of the premiere county recreational facilities.

This Brownfield was an eyesore for well over 50 years.

Through the diligence and dedication of so many people, residents throughout the county will have 120-acres of new parkland in which to play ball, fly a kite, or just take a leisurely walk around the creek.
In this endeavor, I really have to thank Ridgefield Park Mayor George Fosdick who made sure that this project moved forward correctly and safely.

Transportation continues to be a critical issue throughout the region, with a particular impact on the quality of life for Bergen County.

And, after the last few snow storms, our roads and bridges are in dire need of repair.
We must fix what is broken and improve what is deteriorating.

This year, the county will spend more than $7 million dollars to repave and repair our roads that have been decimated by the latest round of winter storms.
Roads such as:

• Crescent Avenue in Allendale and Ramsey
• Union Avenue in Cresskill
• Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn
• Lincoln Avenue in Ridgewood
• Orient Way in Lyndhurst
• Midland Avenue in Paramus
• And, Forest Avenue in Teaneck

We will also use Federal stimulus funds to build a new Dillard Memorial Bridge in Hackensack and fix Route 46 at Main Street in Lodi.

My role as the Chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority puts me in a unique position to champion for more state and federal highway dollars to be spent in Bergen County.
We have worked hard to improve access and reduce congestion along Route 17, such as constructing the new Essex Street Bridge.

We will continue to receive more funds to fix the Route 17 Squeezer in Rochelle Park.

And, a redesign of Kinderkamack Road is underway that will improve access and mobility along the corridor for residents and local businesses in one of the most heavily traveled regions of our county.
These are all tangible accomplishments that we, and our residents, should be proud of.
We are in the midst of historic change, and I believe that we must embrace change and do things differently than what has been done in the past.

One of the points on which Governor Christie and I see eye-to-eye is sharing services.

Consolidation has been the buzz word in Trenton for a year now.

For Bergen County, it is our future.

I applaud what our municipalities have accomplished with regard to joint purchasing, road paving, and library borrowing. But, the times call for bolder action.

The economic realities and state budget cuts will force elected officials to share their limited resources or risk alienating people who now, more than ever, need vital services.

While the county will continue to pursue avenues of consolidation that make fiscal sense, I will also push local officials to work together and share more among themselves and their communities.
We have the most towns and the largest population of any county in the state.
Our residents don't care who collects their trash or who records their deeds. They care about receiving prompt, reliable service for the taxes that they pay.

We have seen several successes throughout the county. Haworth and Demarest began a program with the county to share a police cruiser. That program is now being emulated by Lodi and Wallington.

Thank you Freeholders Carroll and Calabrese for sharing my vision and moving this initiative forward.

Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake have discussed the possibility of sharing a municipal court.
Sheriff McGuire has implemented a transportation program that reduces overtime for local law enforcement and allows them to patrol their communities instead of shuttling people between their town and the jail.

And, in the past two years, I gave my FULL support to the residents of Demarest, Haworth, Maywood, Little Ferry, Moonachie, Oradell, River Edge, Upper Saddle River, and Wood-Ridge who overwhelmingly passed referendums to share services with their neighboring communities.

I applaud the Bergen towns that have decided to change on their own terms rather than have the state tell them they MUST merge or face fiscal consequences.

And in supporting these towns, I will also do my part in the administration. We recently awarded a state-of-the-art sewer cleaning truck to be shared among 10 towns in the Pascack Valley as a reward for sharing capital equipment. This is a great shared service that allows municipalities to purchase and use new equipment for the betterment of their towns.

My administration has also spoken to county officials around the state about creating a Northern County Co-operative for capital purchases. By pooling our joint purchasing power, we could save our residents millions of dollars on purchases of all sorts from emergency vehicles to energy consumption.

And speaking of energy, the county will be undertaking a massive solar initiative this year.
The county will work with our towns, school boards, and private industry to install close to 150,000 solar panels throughout the county, generating close to 30 megawatts of clean, green, energy.
Besides the obvious cost and environmental savings of using these green technologies, we will also be putting hundreds of highly skilled Bergen County electricians, builders, and craftsmen to work.
The goal is to use these economic times to think creatively and make changes for the benefit of our county residents. This is the way that governments must conduct business if we are to continue providing excellent service to our constituents.

And in providing service to our constituents, I will make sure that our OWN house is in order.
Since I became County Executive, I've reduced the county's workforce by 10%.
As I have said, county government is as lean as it's been in a generation. Yet, we still have a mandate to provide the services that make Bergen County special for all of us.

Over the next several months, I will take a strong look at how the county's departments and agencies can be consolidated to squeeze even more savings from our departments.

Mind you, I will make NO cuts that don't foster efficiencies or that drastically curtail vital programs. Now more than ever, our citizens need the services provided by the county.

This is evidenced by the dramatic amount of clients who are seen at the new Housing, Health, and Human Services Center in Hackensack. This shared endeavor between the county and the Housing Authority is a prime example of two government agencies sharing resources to provide a better product for those most in need.

Back in 2004, I said publicly that we would build a new shelter because it is what government should be doing. There are so many Bergen County residents who need a helping hand, and I am grateful that we moved forward with this extremely important safety net.

As an example, last year, Mr. Will Pagliaro lost his job and his home in one fell swoop.
He came to the Center looking for help, and I'm proud to say that he was quickly moved from the temporary shelter to permanent housing. Now, he is in the process of getting a full-time job and getting his license to become a boiler operator. Will is an example of Bergen County taking care of one of its own who needed a hand up, not a hand out, and I'm proud he is here with us this evening. Thank you, Will.

And, I would like to thank the many volunteers who donate their time at the Center serving meals or counseling those who seek help.

As President Franklin Roosevelt once remarked, "It is the purpose of government to see that not only the legitimate interests for the few are protected but that the welfare and the rights of the many are conserved."

We provide so many important services that people can use to get them past these rough times.
Services such as:

• The Bergen County SAVVERS discount card for seniors, first responders, military personnel and their families
• Handicap-accessible emergency busing The Senior Citizen Reverse 9-1-1 that allows family members to check in on their loved ones daily
• The more than 380,000 meals delivered every year to our residents who can no longer shop or prepare dinner for themselves
• Free H1N1 vaccinations for our children and
• elderly
• And, education of thousands of EMT's, police, and fire officers at our Law & Public Safety Academy

These are the programs that will continue to thrive under my administration so that everyone who needs help, education, or peace of mind will receive it.

We also have to plan for our future, and our children's future. This spring we will hold a forum to update Bergen County's Master Plan. This document, which was adopted in 1973, has been the blueprint for how we have planned development, recreational, and transportation projects throughout the County.
It has been successful for over 37 years, but it needs to be revised to reflect our changing times.
The forum will consist of planning experts, interested stakeholders, and members of the public who will come together and draft a new Master Plan that looks at our shifting demographics and infrastructure.
This is the type of public policy that is needed to maintain Bergen's status as the number one county in New Jersey over the course of the next several decades.

As I speak with you this evening, I do so with my feet firmly planted on the ground.

I understand the concern and trepidation of our residents as we cope with the worst economic recession of our lifetime.

Nevertheless, we must work together to change our economic fortunes, while still providing the services our citizens need to make their lives better.

I believe in responsible government.

As County Executive, I've governed responsibly by making sure Bergen County lives within our means, and I am proud to say to that the county is on firm financial ground.

The independent fiscal rating agency Moody's wrote in its most recent report of Bergen County, and I quote: "the county's finances will remain sound despite a modest reduction to reserves…the county's overall debt burden is low…and direct debt is nominal…Moody's expects the county's economy to remain vibrant …Moody's has affirmed the county's triple-A bond rating and stable outlook."

Our strong financial footing doesn't leave me surprised.

Bergen County has the largest number of workers, private-sector jobs, and highest per capita income of all 21 New Jersey counties.

However, we must be creative and help those workers who must redefine themselves in this evolving economy.

My goal is for Bergen County to be at the forefront in leading the economic recovery throughout the county and the state.

Over 45% of county residents work in the Financial, Insurance, and Real Estate sectors.
These sectors have been hit hard by the recession; and many of the employees who lost their jobs in these industries are looking to change careers.

Some are just looking for decent jobs so that they can ensure their families' safety.
In an effort to help these highly skilled and educated people get back in the workforce, we need to give them the right tools.

Today, I am calling on Bergen Community College to spearhead a collaborative "Bergen County Workforce Exchange" that puts job creation, training, and economic development under one roof.
Coupled with the Bergen County Improvement Authority, the non-profit Economic Development Corporation, the Workforce Investment Board, and United Labor Agency, the Workforce Exchange would provide classes, training, recruiting, and job placement for hundreds of experienced employees looking to reenter the workforce or train for a new career.

Additionally, the Workforce Exchange would work with private industry to place the right people in the right positions as the economy rallies in the near future.

I envision a business service that gets our Bergen residents back to work and earning a good living while helping new businesses get started and existing businesses expand.

I will work with all parties, including our state and federal legislators, to make this Exchange a model to be emulated by other government entities.

But, while we are moving forward, I am hearing disturbing news from Trenton that may force us to take a step back.

A recent report from the Governor's office suggests steep cuts to programs that benefit local communities.

The report makes it abundantly clear that these cuts will lead to less state aid for the suburbs, particularly Bergen County school districts.

For example:

• Bergenfield can expect $1.5 million dollars LESS in state aid this year
• Hackensack can expect $3.5 million LESS
• Lodi, $3.8 million
• Mahwah $1 million
• Teaneck $2 million
• And, the list goes on and on.

Last year, we successfully lobbied Trenton for more state aid for our public schools.
The new school funding formula in Bergen County resulted in 76 total districts getting significant increases based on student need, not student enrollment.

Now, these districts will have their aid slashed and cuts will have to be made in our local communities.
But, just keep this fact in mind: about 65% of your local taxes go toward local education.
That means that for every dollar homeowners pay in property taxes, 35-cents pays for garbage collection, snow removal, libraries, parks, community policing, and other vital municipal functions.

These functions are lean and can't be cut without affecting services.
So --if our towns are expected to cut back, where will they have to cut?
That's right: local education, one aspect of our communities that make Bergen County such a desirable place to live and keeps our property values so high.

The state should not pass along its fiscal problems to our communities.
This is inherently unfair to our residents.

Fortunately, we have a strong Legislative delegation that will fight for our fair share of state funding.
But, we can't leave it to our Legislators to fight all of our battles.

We must do what we can to help our communities fend off the fiscal axe being swung at our suburbs.
I will do what I can to find solutions to these fiscal problems, and I am offering the county's assistance in helping our Bergen Mayors and Council members keep their local property taxes stable.

As I've said before, Moody's places Bergen County on firm financial ground. We are one of 45 counties nationwide with a Triple-AAA bond rating. This is accomplished through sound fiscal practices and economic strategy.

I want to especially thank the County's Treasury Department for helping us navigate the County through these turbulent times.These men and women are such assets to the county that I will make them available to help any Bergen County municipalities that need innovative ideas and guidance to keep their local property taxes stable and keep their schools the best in the state.

This obviously places a strain on our personnel, but, again, these are unprecedented economic times and we need to help each other any way we can to protect our residents' pocketbooks.
And, while discussing property taxes and savings for local homeowners, I believe that we must cut the county's Open Space Tax for 2010.

Since becoming County Executive, I have been a strong proponent of the Open Space initiative, urging voters to increase the Open Space Tax to 1-cent of every $100 of a homeowners' assessed valuation.
The voters overwhelmingly approved the increase.

This generated an additional $9 million dollars for which the county could preserve farms, improve recreation areas, buy open land, and protect our historic places.
And, we used the funds to do some great things, such as:

• Securing the development rights of many active farms in Bergen County.
• Providing tens of millions of dollars to build and improve community parks.
• Constructing a Riverwalk along the Hackensack.
• And, preserving thousands of acres of open space from development.

It was the right plan for the right time, but now, residents want tax relief.
By cutting the open space tax, we can save millions for Bergen County Taxpayers, monies that homeowners sorely need.

Will this tax cut be a cure-all for our taxpayers? Quite obviously, NO.
But, it is something that we can and should do to help our residents get through this fiscal crisis.
Cuts must come from all places, and I will not protect any sacred cows for political expediency.
The times have changed, and if people cannot offer solutions to today's problems, then those people should step aside.

I have often said that it's easy to criticize and complain…and most fools do.
Now is the time to stop the criticism and get to work solving our problems.

Before we conclude, I must say a few words about our upcoming budget.
During my administration, I have proposed balanced budgets.
Budgets that helped Bergen County's various constituencies.
Budgets that produced some of the lowest county tax rates in the state.
And, budgets that were respected by independent credit rating agencies.

In a few weeks, I will be presenting the County's 2010 Budget to the Freeholder Board.
Again, it will be an austere budget with several cuts that reflect the changing times and the unprecedented fiscal climate.

But, I promise you that it will be a fair, balanced, and responsible budget.
And, let me make one thing perfectly clear to those who may wish to pick a fight:
Now is not the time for headline-grabbing and partisanship;
The public wants leadership, not sound bites.

We must be bold and confront our problems, and not sit comfortably on the sidelines doing nothing.
And I am prepared to make the tough decisions, and often unpopular decisions, that will keep Bergen on the road to recovery.

We have faced adversity over the last few years.
But we cannot hide from problems. The role of public servants is to face the challenges head on and do the best we can to improve the lives of our constituents.

I think a quote from one of Bergen County's most famous residents sums up how I feel:
"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves." Those words were said by Vince Lombardi, who coached at St. Cecilia's in Englewood.

As we go forward, I ask that we all try to live by the words of Coach Lombardi.

If we work to the best of our abilities we will overcome all challenges.

Friends, it has been my privilege to serve as your County Executive.
From working together to promote shared services, to providing the human and material resources necessary to keep us safe, to protecting and caring for the most vulnerable of our citizens, to improving the quality of life for all of our family, friends, and neighbors, I take great pride in doing the best I can to achieve these goals.

We have put the pieces in place and made the necessary adjustments to make Bergen County better because it's the right thing to do.

Because of these changes, Bergen County is strong today, and will be stronger tomorrow.
We have accomplished a great deal and I am confident that if we all do our part, we will continue to do great things in the future.

On behalf of my Directors, our Constitutional Officers, our Legislative Leaders, and, most importantly, from my family to yours---
Thank you and God Bless.

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