The Hunterdon County Freeholders want Raritan Valley Community College to stick to its original funding request.
FLEMINGTON -- Money was on the Hunterdon County Freeholders' minds Tuesday night, as they introduced the county's 2016 budget and raised some concerns about what Raritan Valley Community College is asking the county to contribute to its budget.
With little comment freeholders introduced the county's budget. Freeholder Director Suzanne Lagay said it is a flat budget, meaning it reflects little if any change from the 2015 budget. The 2015 budget called for $64.546 million to be raised by taxes.
"We'll have more comments at the public hearing," Lagay said. That hearing is set for June 9 at 4 p.m.
Freeholder Rob Walton said he's raised some concerns about the spending plan with the county Budget Committee and couldn't support its introduction as it stands. He voted against its introduction, but was outvoted by Lagay, Deputy Director John Lanza, and Freeholders John King and Matt Holt.
Later in Tuesday's meeting, King opened a discussion of Raritan Valley Community College's budget request to the county. The college serves both Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
When RVCC's board of trustees approved the budget in April, it called for no increase in operating support from the state or Somerset and Hunterdon counties. It then went to the Board of School Estimate for approval May 12.
At that meeting an increase from Hunterdon County was discussed, King reported to the board.
Increased bonding may have contributed to the increased request, said Holt, who then added, "The original presentation was flat, and that's what we placed in the budget and what we should do."
"I could agree with that," said Walton, who expressed his frustration with the community college. "Every circumstance results in the same thing," he said. "Tuition goes up, the budget goes up, everything goes up.
"We've voted against the budget some years hoping it would have an effect and it hasn't. We've played nice some years hoping that would have an effect and it hasn't. I see little evidence of belt tightening. ... It would be nice to see a culture of thrift, as well as a culture of educational excellence."
Lanza said the freeholders have been struggling to put together a flat budget. "It isn't an easy task," he said. "If the representation is made that the (RVCC) budget is going to be flat, we expect it to be flat."
Lagay noted the board's intent to support a flat budget for its contribution to the community college.
Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.