Burlco freeholders compromise to avoid layoffs

A Wednesday night budget compromise by the Burlington County freeholders negated a proposal to lay off 52 employees.

The officials instead approved an amendment by Freeholder Chris Brown that put $665,000 in surplus money toward the wages of those workers.

The amended $223.3 million budget lowers taxes by $17 for the owner of a home assessed at the county average of $192,000.

At $162.3 million, the tax levy under the budget is $368,000 less than the year before. The freeholder board will vote the budget after the state approves the amendment. - Maya Rao