TRENTON — County
officials increased their estimate of how much Hurricane Sandy cost the
county, adding the cost to repair a roof at Trenton-Mercer Airport to
the costs of overtime and other damages.
The freeholder board
approved the additional $45,000 and the estimated $1 million bill that
was presented to them at a meeting earlier this week with no opposition.
David
Miller, chief financial officer for the county, told the board that the
airport roof sustained substantial damage and repairs are ongoing.
The
total expenses associated with the storm that tore through in late
October come in the form of unexpected costs and salaries and wages.
Salaries
and wages, including regular pay and overtime totaling more than
$40,000 were expended for the Sheriff’s Department and the Highway
Department alone. In total $166,900 of the $1 million price tag went to
payroll.
The remainder of the cost, estimated at $844,500, was
incurred in storm-related repairs and supplies for county-owned
properties and buildings.
Miller added that it is likely the
county will receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
to cover the expenses. It had not yet been determined how much will be
given in public assistance to local governments in the state.
The total storm expenses will be spread out over the next three budgets, with approximately $337,000 added each year.
Also
at their meeting, the final one of the year, the freeholders approved
salary increases for themselves and top-ranking county officials.
The ordinance, which was passed unanimously, grants a 2 percent raise in their salaries, which would be retroactive for 2012.
County
Executive Brian Hughes will see a raise of nearly $3,000 — increasing
his pay to $151,652. County Administrator Andrew Mair’s salary will rise
to $147,881 and Sheriff John Kilmer will make $136,966 this year. The
raise increases the salary for County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky and
County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello to $121,014. Human services director
Marygrace Billek and director of transportation and infrastructure Aaron
T. Watson will make $128,535.
The freeholders voted to increase their own salaries to $27,507. Board chairwoman Lucylle Walter will make $28,609.
At
the first meeting of the new year, scheduled to be held on Jan. 4, the
board will choose a new chairman and vice chairman. Re-elected
Freeholders Ann Cannon, Pasquale “Pat” Colavita and Sam Frisby will be
sworn in at that meeting as well.
Source: http://www.nj.com
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