Mercer County Executive Dan Benson has introduced his administration’s proposed 2025 budget. The plan totals $420,116,994.83 and was presented to the County Board of Commissioners in Trenton. It includes a 6.1% tax rate cut and less than 2% increases in core spending. The budget maintains essential county services, manages rising costs, and prepares for possible federal funding cuts.
To understand the context, Benson started by addressing the financial condition inherited from the previous administration. When he took office, the county faced a $27 million deficit. There were $10.3 million in deferred charges, incomplete audits, inaccurate internal records, and unaccounted grant funds. Key departments were understaffed and underfunded. In response, Benson’s administration completed four audits in one year, launched a new financial system using Edmunds software, and recovered $400,000 in unclaimed state funds.
Despite financial pressure, the county limited the non-grant spending increase to about $6 million, rising from $397 million in 2024 to just over $403 million in 2025. Employee salaries, wages, and benefits rose by $16 million. Still, through cost-saving measures and rising property values, the overall tax levy increased by less than 4%, and the county tax rate decreased by over 6%. It is not yet clear how this will affect tax bills in individual municipalities.
To cut costs, the budget leaves several job vacancies unfilled. The county plans to relocate staff from leased buildings to vacant, county-owned offices, which is projected to save about $500,000 annually. Mercer is also reviewing its participation in the State Health Benefits Plan, which has seen double-digit premium increases. Exiting the plan could lower long-term healthcare costs and allow more flexibility in union negotiations, although it would not save money in 2025.
So far, the county has settled seven out of twelve expired union contracts. These include agreements with AFSCME 2287 (Blue and White Collar), AFSCME 3566 (Supervisors), CWA 1032 (Superintendent of Elections), PBA 187 (Sheriff’s Officers), and three units from Teamsters 469 (Engineering Professionals, Prosecutor’s Clerical, and Public Safety Professionals). Talks with PBA 167 (Corrections Officers) are close to completion. The remaining four contracts, represented by FMBA and Teamsters, are expected to be settled by June.
The proposed budget does not include layoffs. However, the county will not fill all open positions and will focus on maintaining the essential roles that were filled last year. Rising juvenile detention costs are also adding pressure. Benson and other county officials have testified to the state Senate about the financial burden caused by the current youth detention system.
Even with these challenges, the county is continuing to invest in infrastructure and public facilities. Projects moving forward include renovations to the Trenton Thunder ballpark, modernization of Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing, rebuilding the Lincoln Avenue Bridge, and revitalizing the South Broad Street corridor in Trenton. The county will also launch a municipal and nonprofit grant program to improve and maintain Mercer’s trail network using its Open Space Trust Fund.
The administration reorganized departments for efficiency. Public Health and Public Safety have been combined, and programs like Veteran Services, Housing, One-Stop Employment, County Connection, Human Services, and TRADE are now part of a unified Community Services department. The new Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs is also operational under Community Services, with active programming and service navigation support.
In public safety, Mercer County is upgrading the countywide P25 emergency radio system to improve communication for first responders. HAZMAT service agreements have been formalized with the Trenton and West Windsor fire departments. The county temporarily provided licensed health officers for Trenton and Hopewell to meet local health needs. The Transportation Department restarted the Municipal Assistance Road Resurfacing Program, completing road work in East Windsor, Ewing, Hopewell Borough, Pennington, and Princeton. New 24-passenger vehicles with wheelchair access have been provided for use in Trenton, Ewing, East Windsor, and West Windsor.
The county plans to work with Lawrence Township to upgrade the county’s 911 emergency response system and with Ewing on fire services at the airport. Cybersecurity improvements and full IT audits have been completed, including at Trenton-Mercer Airport. Management reviews of the county’s correctional facilities are also in progress to find operational savings.
In economic development, Mercer launched a new Office of Travel and Tourism. A digital passport program was tested during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hamilton, directing visitors to selected local businesses and attractions. This effort is part of preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary, and a new Mercer 250 website is expected soon.
Remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds have been used to support recreation, accessibility, and small businesses. The “Mercer at Play for All” initiative provided funding for inclusive playgrounds, after-school and sports programs for underserved youth, and senior facility programming. Capital projects at county libraries are also supported by ARPA funds.
Mercer County will continue funding Mercer County Community College, Technical Schools, the Special Services School District, and the Board of Social Services at current levels. The administration is also renegotiating pharmacy benefit contracts and reviewing lease agreements to find savings. A major cost-saving step is relocating the Mercer County Office of Training and Employment Services and the County Connection to county-owned buildings. That said, the County Clerk’s popular passport services will remain at its current location.
Internally, employee morale is improving. The county is investing in job coaching and professional development. Benson said that county employees are critical to delivering services and that a diverse, representative workforce remains a priority. The county is also tracking contracts with minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses in real-time to make sure vendor diversity matches the community.
