Ocean County shifts spending for Ocean Ride benefits

Faced with eroding state grant funding, Ocean County officials rework their spending to ensure that drivers it the county senior busing system retain their fringe benefits at current levels.

According to information from the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the County will reduce its charges back to the state under the grant administered by NJ Transit, saving $200,000 in the salary and wage portion of the budget..

The determination was reached after a review of 2017 grant funding by Transportation Director David Fitzgerald, County Administrator Carl Block and Chief Financial Officer Julie Tarrant.

County officials said that the rail agency expects Ocean Ride's 2017 Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance grant to be $1,307,858, a drop of $97,103 from the 2016 level, and a difference of more than half the 2008 high water mark of about $2,900,000.

The grant originates in revenues generated by Atlantic City casinos, which shrank in number from 12 to eight in 2014. Ocean County contributes about $2,900,000, or about 53 percent of Ocean Ride's annual budget, according to Fitzgerald.

"The County will be covering the cost of one-third of their full fringe benefit rate," Fitzgerald said. "Their health benefits, fringe benefits are absolutely unchanged."

"By charging less than a full-bore rate for the fringe benefits, it frees up dollars to be used in other areas," Fitzgerald said, "such as bus repairs, maintenance, fuel."

Of the 70 drivers, 18 are covered under the grant, Fitzgerald said. The remainder will also undergo no changes in benefits.

In 2015, Ocean Ride logged 313,167 trips for the aged, special needs passengers, veterans and others to medical appointments and related essential services.

Grant funds are dedicated to operation expenses, repairs, maintenance, minigrants, the Reserve A Ride program, fixed bus service, and veterans' transportation.

Freeholder Virginia E. Haines commented that the fringe rate reduciton would "...allow the transportation department to cover all 2017 projected existing personnel and services, freeing up operating money for other line items such as bus repair and maintenance and will actually help fund the purchase oftwo new minibuses."

Written comments for the public hearing record can be sent until June 30 to David L. Fitzgerald, Director, Ocean County Department of Transportation Services, P.O. Box 2191, Toms River NJ 08754-2191.