From Sunshine Review
Bergen County is one of
21 counties in
New Jersey.
[edit] Website evaluation
[edit] The good
- Provides a government open records request form.[1]
- County freeholders are listed with contact information.[2]
- Freeholder meeting agendas[3] and videos are provided.[4]
- Includes info on local taxes.[5]
- Budget summary is online.[6]
- Current bids posted.[7]
- Permits and zoning are not applied at a county level in New Jersey.
[edit] The bad
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article:New Jersey taxpayer-funded lobbying
Bergen County has reported more than $50,000 spent lobbying since 2005 (see table).
Reported lobbying expenditures, 2005-2009 [8]
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying
|
| 2009
| $20,000
|
| 2008
| $30,000
|
| 2007
| Less than $10,000
|
| 2006
| Less than $10,000
|
| 2005
| Less than $10,000
|
The Bergen County Improvement Authority has reported $620,000 spent lobbying since 2004 (see table).
Improvement Authority, lobbying expenditures 2004-2009 [9]
| Year | Amount spent on lobbying
|
| 2009
| $10,000
|
| 2008
| $110,000
|
| 2007
| $140,000
|
| 2006
| $120,000
|
| 2005
| $120,000
|
| 2004
| $120,000
|
In addition to this, the Bergen County Department of Planning & Development spent $25,000 in 2008 on lobbying.[10] Total, Bergen County has reported more than $695,000 total on lobbying since 2004.
[edit] External links
- Official Bergen County Website
- New Jersey Visitors Network - Bergen County
- Public Records Directory - Bergen County
- Bergen County on E-Reference
- Firm wins fight for real estate data, The Star-Ledger, April 28, 2009
- Court rules for county clerk in records case, Courier Post Online, April 28, 2009
- In the end, high court prefers more secrecy, My Central Jersey, May 3, 2009
[edit] References
