N.J. county association picks new head
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
By: Phil Gregory
philgregorynews@gmail.com
The New Jersey Association of Counties has a new president who is vowing to lobby for counties' needs while also giving attention to the group's internal operations.
Somerset County Freeholder Peter Palmer says it's a challenge to take over as president of the Association of Counties at a time when New Jersey state government faces the monumental task of dealing with a huge budget deficit.
He says his first priority will be to resist any state effort to cutback on subsidies for social service programs administered by counties.
Palmer: We have delivered home delivered meals for homebound senior citizens. Well how do you cut that program? You just have to cut back the number of people you serve and I don't think that's going to be a very popular idea.
Palmer says he'll also focus on his group's own operations. The Association will conduct a comprehensive audit. Members had questioned expenses including the executive director's $205,000 salary.