By Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul
We are happy to report that our bipartisan efforts in Trenton secured millions for Monmouth County municipalities, schools, and nonprofit organizations in the FY2025 state budget.
The state budget allocates funds for mental health services at these LD11 school districts: Asbury Park, $250,000; Eatontown, $100,000; Fair Haven, $100,000; Ocean, $100,000; Red Bank, $100,000; Shrewsbury Borough, $100,000, and Tinton Falls, $100,000.
We also secured $4 million for Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center to expand maternal health services, and $50,000 to CentraState Healthcare System for a fluoroscopy x-ray imaging system. The new system will allow doctors at the hospital in Freehold to see how a patient's organs are moving in real time without invasive surgeries.
Here are some of the other budget appropriations we successfully sponsored.
We secured $250,000 for the Asbury Park Police Athletic League, which helps prevent crime by getting law enforcement involved with kids through STEM mentoring, S.A.T. prep help, and tutoring. as well as athletics such as the Asbury Park Basketball League.
The Freehold Borough Fire Department will receive $500,000 for a new pumper fire engine in the state budget, and Count Basie will get $500,000 to support programming for its 100-year celebration in 2026.
Our bills signed into law also addressed the difficulties first-time home buyers face in the high-priced real estate market at the shore, where demand has driven prices out of range for many. Our legislation just signed into law modifies the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s (HMFA) Down Payment Assistance Loan Program to make it easier for first-generation buyers to purchase a home. The new law increases the amount available from the Down Payment Assistance Loan program from $15,000 to up to $20,000.
Another of our bills that is now the law establishes the State Work First New Jersey Menstrual Hygiene Benefit Program and State Work First New Jersey Diaper Benefit Program. The new law helps residents who are struggling to make ends meet by $14 a month for each person in the household who menstruates and a $30 monthly benefit to buy diapers for each dependent under 36 months of age.
In addition, Assemblywoman Donlon’s bill to appropriate $101,696,535 for open space acquisition and preservation has passed both the Assembly and the Senate. In addition to securing open space for generations to enjoy and appreciate, preserving open space will help ensure rain water can reach the aquifers we rely on for drinking water.
The bill would provide funding for 11 Monmouth County municipalities, including five LD11 towns, to acquire open space or improve public parks. The LD11 towns that would benefit are Eatontown, $660,000 for Wolcott Park Jake’s Law Playground; Freehold Borough, $508,600 for Lenoir Park Inclusive Playground; Neptune Township, $258,000 for the Division Street Park acquisition, and $577,875 for Red Bank to replace the Count Basie Park Bleachers.
As we continue to work in bipartisan fashion at home and in Trenton to make life more affordable, fairer, and more equitable for all residents, your needs and ideas remain the driving force behind our efforts. We are always available to listen at [email protected], [email protected], or (732) 695-3371.
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