March 2025 Newsletter
Farewell March—Hello April!
As we welcome April’s spring rain showers, I’m excited to reflect on the past month of March and share an update on the progress of my work as your Sussex County Commissioner.
County Seed Library: A Growing Success!
On March 12th, the Division of Senior Services hosted its first educational session for the County Seed Library at Newton Liberty Towers. Led by the Sussex County Rutgers Master Gardeners and Senior Services staff, the event was a tremendous success- with 19 seniors in attendance! Participants not only received seeds from the county’s Seed Library but also took part in hands-on planting demonstrations, learning how to start seeds in containers and successfully transplant them for a thriving garden.
This initiative, in partnership with the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Sussex County, continues with additional educational sessions:
📅 April 9 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Vernon Senior Center
📅 April 21 | 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Hopatcong Senior Center
Registration is required, and spots are filling up quickly! The Vernon session already has 11 participants registered, while Hopatcong has 21—an incredible response that reflects our community’s enthusiasm for the program. Work is still being done to provide additional educational sessions around Sussex County. Any additional dates will be announced as soon as possible, so stay tuned!
County Budget Season!
March marked a key moment in budget planning as the county budget was introduced at the public budget workshop. As a liaison to the Capital Budget Committee, I’m proud of the careful planning and commitment reflected in this year’s capital budget. The balances of critical infrastructure investments with responsible fiscal management, ensures the continuation to provide the highest level of service to Sussex County residents while being fiscally conservative.
For 2025, the Capital Budget has been introduced at $13,747,328, with key investments including:
Sussex Tech Sewer Project: $3,681,600
Fleet Management & Heavy Equipment: $2,574,758
Library & County Facility Improvements: $2,156,600
Bridge & Road Improvements: $2,050,000
Sussex County Community College Improvements: $1,050,000
For comparison, the Capital Budget in recent years has been:
2024: $18,700,000
2023: $17,200,000
2022: $24,900,000
These numbers demonstrate our ongoing commitment to responsible and conservative financial stewardship while investing in Sussex County’s future. More details on the full county budget including the operating budget will be shared as it is finalized during the April meetings.
As always, I am truly thank God for the opportunity to serve as your Sussex County Commissioner. It is an honor I hold with the utmost respect and responsibility. Your trust and support mean everything to me, and I remain fully committed to working tirelessly for the betterment of our community.
Sincerely,
Jack DeGroot