Camden County asks agencies for stimulus requests

Camden County, one of the local entities preparing for as much as $900 billion that could flow from Washington as part of an economic stimulus package, is asking its departments and agencies to write comprehensive project lists.

"The county is very aggressively pursuing the stimulus funds," said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr., who met with reporters yesterday. "Camden County is ahead of the game."

Cappelli said he wanted the public to know that as soon as the economic stimulus package is signed into law, Camden County will have a document tailored to President Obama's specifications.

Cappelli is asking the heads of county departments, such as public works, and agencies, such as the Municipal Utilities Authority, to make lists, with price tags, of projects that can begin immediately and provide as many jobs as possible.

"These are not wish-list projects," said Dominic Vesper, deputy county administrator for public services. "These are dire and basic county needs that have to be funded."

The hope, officials said, is that federal dollars, not local taxes, pay for the projects.

The lists are due next Friday, and already $400 million for 25 projects has been requested, including $50 million to tie six lower Camden County towns into the Municipal Utility Authorities system and $60 million for an expansion of Camden County College in Blackwood.

There are also requests to continue upgrades to the county emergency communications system and expand the Camden County Health Services Center.

"A lot of the governments are sitting around on the sidelines waiting to see what happens," Vesper said. "We're not taking that approach."

The New Jersey State League of Municipalities has collected $1 billion worth of project requests from municipalities.

Lindenwold plans to ask for $1.8 million for a new municipal building, Merchantville wants $1.2 million for a community center, and Winslow has plans for a $5.8 million solar-energy project.