Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., surrounded by county department directors and staff, unveiled a proposed $725.5 million budget that he said is less than a half percent increase over last year's overal budget amount.

DiVincenzo said the proposed budget, which must be reviewed by the county freeholders before being sent to the state, meets the state-mandated tax levy cap of 2 percent.

"There's no question this has been the worst economy since the Great Depression," he said. He pointed out income losses in real estate transactions, interest payments on investments and a rise in the cost of unemployment insurance.

However, DiVincenzo also showed a Power Point of ways the county is bringing in revenue. Top on his list was $41 million expected from housing federal inmates and immigration detainees, $41.7 million from housing state and out-of-county patients at the Hospital Center in Cedar Grove, followed by $10 million in projected income from parks and recreation facilities and $4.4 million from housing juvenile detainees from other counties.

"We rehabilitated every one of our parks," he said. "We run our facilities like a business, it's pay as you go."

DiVincenzo said the parks revenue included income from the Turtle Back Zoo, mini-golf facility, ziplining course, golf courses and the new restaurant he opened in the South Mountain Recreation area - McCloone's.

He made a passing reference to criticism he's received to investing in opening the restaurant and other recreational facilities, but said it brings in tourism dollars to the county.

DiVincenzo explained in broad terms where the county budget is being spent. He said $462 million is for state-mandated costs that include the county jail, hospital center, social services and welfare. There is also $175 million of fixed operating expenses. He said $61 million is controlled by the county executive and $27 million comes from grants.

While there are no layoffs or furloughs included in this year's budget, DiVincenzo said he is leaving vacant jobs unfilled unless they are essential to public health or safety programs. The current number of county employees is at 3,495, compared to 4,200 in 2003.

DiVincenzo, who is in his third term in office, said he hopes his legacy is to leave the county on solid financial footing when his stint as executive is over. He said, "There's no question this county is moving in the right direction. We are doing a lot more with a lot less."