"We'll be bringing new business into the county," Jason Sarnoski says.
Jason Sarnoski says a lot has changed since he became a Warren County freeholder five years ago, when "the financial trend of the county was unsustainable."
Warren County Freeholder Director Jason Sarnoski kicked off his re-election campaign Jan. 15, 2016, at Warren County Community College. (Courtesy photo)"This year, for the first time in a very long time, Warren County has a sustainable, balanced budget that does not require one time tricks or fixes to balance, that does not call for a tax increase, and that is predictable year over year," he said.
Now the three-member freeholder board's director, Sarnoski on Friday at Warren County Community College officially kicked off his re-election campaign with a pledged focus on economic redevelopment.
"We'll be bringing new business into the county," the Republican from Lopatcong Township said in a phone interview Saturday.
A newly formed economic development committee and the planned hire of a contracted economic development director will help toward that goal, he said.
The freeholder director also said the county budget will be the lowest-spending since 2005, after last year's sale of the Warren Haven nursing home to a private operator, among other cost-cutting efforts.
Sarnoski also promised upgrades to the county courthouse. The project is under review by state historic preservation officials.
"We've got some great plans for the future," Sarnoski said. "The bottom line is that you look at all the issues going on in the state and various other counties ... those things don't happen in Warren County. We work together, we make hard choices and we do things right."
New Jersey's primary is April 4. The general election is Nov. 8.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.