The Morris County Board of Freeholders on March 10 recognized a student at the Morris County School of Technology for having been selected for a new internship program aimed at teaching green energy technology.

Jillian Young of Newfoundland received a $1,000 check for her scholastic achievement in green energy technology while interning with the Morris County Park Commission.

"The green internship is a wonderful program that prepares students for the emerging green economy," said Freeholder Director Gene Feyl. "It gives the students hands-on experience with the technologies that will be central to our economic future."

The internship program was developed by the NJAC Foundation, an educational nonprofit run by the New Jersey Association of Counties, in conjunction with the vocational-technical schools in the state. The program is funded by Wal-Mart.

It is also hoped the internship program will encourage students to pursue careers in green technologies in county government.

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The Morris County Freeholders have introduced a $308 million county operating budget that cuts $2 million from the total county tax levy.

"This marks the second year in a row that we've been able to cut the net tax levy by $2 million," said Freeholder Director Gene Feyl. "We've done it in spite of increased costs, reduced ratables and a heavy demand on our human services."

Feyl, a member of the freeholder budget sub-committee, said the reduction in the tax levy is inclusive of the 1-cent cut in the county's Open Space Tax approved by the freeholders earlier this year.

The 2010 budget reflects a gross reduction of 53 county employees through attrition. There were five positions added to the Communication Center, and these will be fully funded by the municipalities being served, bringing the net reduction of county employees to 48.

Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom, who chairs the budget sub-committee, said one of the goals the freeholders had in developing the budget was to minimize the tax levy while maximizing county services to the greatest extent possible.

"We've reduced the cost of providing services to county residents rather than reducing the services themselves," said Nordstrom. She said the priority areas in the budget included social services, health and public safety and economic development.

Nordstrom said the 2010 spending plan is 2.8 percent higher than last year's budget, and said it includes funds to provide 700,000 meals under the county nutrition program, 80,000 rides to senior citizens and the disabled under the county's MAPS program and to meet the increased requests from those in need of general assistance programs.

The freeholders said shared services agreements with several counties for use of Morris County's Juvenile Detention Center and the Morris County Youth Shelter will result in approximately $1.13 million in revenue to Morris. The freeholders also said operational efficiencies and revenue enhancements at Morris View Healthcare Center produced a net savings of $2.5 million last year, with additional reductions being pursued in 2010.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 14 at 7:30 p.m.

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The Morris County Library is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau and will serve as an assistance center for anyone needing help filling out the census questionnaire.

Census personnel will be stationed in lobby of the library, 30 East Hanover Ave., Whippany, from March 20 to April 19 to provide assistance and answer questions.

The Census Bureau this week began mailing advance letters to about 120 million addresses nationwide, notifying households that 2010 Census forms will be arriving in their mailboxes March 15 to March 17. The one-page letter urges households to complete the 10-question census form when it arrives and to return it in the accompanying prepaid envelope as soon as possible.

Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

Census staff members are scheduled to be at the Morris County Library on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Mondays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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