MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County has again received the top-ranked Triple A bond rating from the nation’s two largest rating agencies, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc., and Standard & Poor’s, which once again lauded the county’s stable management practices and fiscal policies.

The Triple A rating, which has been awarded to the county for a 44th straight year, benefits residents by allowing the county to take advantage of the best possible interest and financing rates, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

“This is terrific news for our taxpayers because it gets the county the best rates on our general obligation bonds, which saves our residents substantial dollars,’’ said Freeholder Heather Darling, who chairs the Freeholder Board’s Budget Subcommittee. “The Triple A rating reflects the value of the county’s strategic planning and budgeting efforts, which have resulted in our long-term stability.’’

S&P, in its analysis of the county, said its top rating for Morris County is based on several factors: the county’s “very strong economy, very strong management, strong budgetary performance, very strong budget flexibility, very strong liquidity, and strong institutional framework.’’

“Extensive, well-integrated management policies and long-term planning have helped Morris County maintain its excellent credit quality, in our view,’’ S&P said in its report.

Moody’s once again touted the county’s history of conservative budgeting, mixed with financially sound initiatives — such as the lease of the Morris View Healthcare Center, designed to improve the financial position of the county, as reasons for the top ranking.
It also praised the county’s sound debt policy, its substantial and diverse tax base and highly dependable revenue streams.

“Management has a history and formal policy of budgeting conservatively and maintaining a healthy level of fund balance … and Moody’s expects the county’s economic tax base and finances to remain stable going forward,’’ according to the latest Moody’s report.

Morris County has had a Triple A rating since 1975. It was the first county government in New Jersey to obtain the prestigious rating and is only the 11th in the nation to achieve it.

The 2019 renewed Triple A ratings were made after a county finance team, comprised of Freeholders, the County Administrator, County Treasurer, and others made presentations to the ratings agencies last month in New York.

“It is very difficult to achieve a Triple A rating,’’ said Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo, a member of the Freeholders’ Budget Subcommittee. “By giving us a Triple A, the rating agencies are signaling that our government and financial practices are excellent, which is a benefit to county taxpayers.’’

“We are proud to continue this tradition of responsible government in Morris County, providing effective services and programs to county residents while being prudent about our spending and debt,’’ said Freeholder Deborah Smith, also a member of the Budget Subcommittee.

A Triple A bond rating, in effect, means the county has exceptional credit worthiness because the county can easily meet its financial commitments. The county can get the lowest interest rates when borrowing because a Triple A rated government entity is viewed in the financial world as having the smallest risk of defaulting on its debt.

That equates to lower borrowing costs, which allows for lower costs to finance capital projects.

Currently, the difference in interest that Morris County would pay on a 10-year Triple A bond is 35 basis points lower than a lower-ranked Single A bond and 10 basis points lower than a Double A bond.

The county’s Triple A rating for an upcoming $32.5 million bond sale will cost county taxpayers about $640,000 less in interest than if the county had a Single A rating and $165,000 less than if the county had a Double A rating.

MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Anthony Bucco (R-25) to pay tribute to former Morris Plains Mayor and Morris County Freeholder Frank Druetzler for his many years of laudable public service, by ceremoniously renaming a local rail station in his honor, has passed the New Jersey Senate.

“Frank Druetzler’s legacy exemplifies all that makes Morris Plains ‘the Community of Caring,’” said Pennacchio. “From his 15 years as freeholder to his 32 years as mayor, he has dedicated decades of his life to public service. Frank always put people before politics. Renaming the train station in his honor is a fitting tribute.”

Pennacchio and Bucco’s bill, S-3449, would ceremoniously rename the Morris Plains rail station, to designate it as the “Frank J. Druetzler Station – Morris Plains, New Jersey.”

Druetzler, a Morris County native, began his distinguished career in civil service as a member of the Morris Plains Borough Council. In 1986, Druetzler was elected Mayor of Morris Plains and later to the Morris County Freeholder Board.

His achievements include establishing a Memorial Day parade, a local “Family Day,” the town bonfire, and “Uncle Frank’s Fishing Contest.” Under his leadership, Morris Plains opened a Community Center, a borough museum, and erected the Morris Plains September 11, 2001 memorial. As Freeholder, he pushed for and successfully secured the preservation of open space, and built a new county library.

“Mayor Druetzler made the residents of Morris Plains and Morris County his priority at all times,” said Bucco. “He was instrumental in spearheading numerous projects that bettered the local community and New Jersey as a whole. I am proud to support the effort to change the station’s name in honor of Frank. The people of Morris Plains and Morris County are better off because of him.”

Dear Editor,

I have had the pleasure of knowing Heather Darling for over thirty years both on a personal and professional basis.  For fifty-one years I was involved in public service and most recently served as Morris County Sheriff.  Throughout my long career I can honestly say I have never seen a candidate whose qualifications and dedication so perfectly fit the office they are running for.  Morris County residents would be making a wise decision by choosing Heather Darling to be their next Surrogate.

As an attorney, Heather has experience dealing with issues of trusts and estates as well as guardianship matters.  These areas make up the bulk of the work the surrogate’s office handles.  It is important to have a surrogate who has experience in these areas so they don’t need on the job training and can immediately delve deep into the vital work the office performs.  In addition to administrative tasks, the Surrogate is essentially an elected judge, so having someone with a thorough understanding of the relevant areas of the law is important for the continued professional operation of the office.

As Surrogate, Heather Darling will be a champion for Morris County senior citizens and special needs residents.  Heather is running for office to make a difference in the lives of the county’s most vulnerable residents. To do this she wants to improve outreach and ensure those who can receive benefits from the county surrogate are aware of what they are entitled to. Heather is a constant presence in our communities, attending events almost every day and night and will continue to do so as our county surrogate.

Heather has been on the receiving end of an unprecedented smear campaign by one of her opponents. That same person has also smeared my name even though I am not a candidate or even an elected official.   Throughout it all, Heather has held her head high and stayed on message, even when she could have fought back.  Heather is an honest and decent person and doesn’t deserve these attacks. I am proud of Heather and know that she will be able to handle everything that comes before her as Surrogate.

I respectfully ask you to join with me in voting for Heather Darling in the Republican

Primary election on Tuesday, June 4.

Sincerely,
Sheriff Edward V. Rochford (Ret.)

Dear Editor,

Yesterday a woman knocked on my door and told me that she’s running for Morris County Surrogate. She told me a little bit about herself and then began to talk about her opponent, Heather Darling. The trash coming from this woman’s mouth about Heather Darling was deeply personal and sickening-she sounded completely unhinged.

Researching the candidates, I learned that the woman who is slandering Heather Darling, is an unemployed accounts payable clerk from the travel department of a company. I even found her job description and LinkedIn profile which I have included. In her prior jobs, she has no experience with trusts or estates and she absolutely lied to me about that.  I am sure that if she did so when she knocked on my door, she is also lying about her experience to any Morris County voters she meets. What kind of candidate is that? Surely, Morris County can do better.

Another candidate that is running has yet to say what he plans on doing as Surrogate.  If his past is any guide, the answer is next to nothing. He has little to show for 23 years in the Assembly and has done next to nothing to campaign for the position he is running for.  Worse still, are his comments about slavery and other offensive positions he has taken.  Nominating him means the Democrats will almost assuredly win their first county election in 45 years.  His candidacy will motivate Democrats to come to the polls and imperil other candidates running for office up and down the ballot in November.  As a Republican, I do not believe this is a chance we should risk for either the Surrogate’s seat or the other offices being contested this year.

Heather Darling is running to be a champion for the residents of Morris County, especially senior citizens and those with special needs.  Unlike her opponents, she has a plan for the Surrogate’s office.  She is a constant presence across the county as Freeholder and I believe she will continue to be as Surrogate. When I compare the three candidates running, Heather Darling is by far the best person for the job.  Her ability to stay on message in the face of deeply personal attacks illustrates exactly how good a fit she an office requiring the utmost tact and decorum for the benefit of those needing the services of the Surrogate.

Sharon Dogany
Chester, NJ