On Feb. 26, Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III delivered his 11th Annual State of the County Address. The event took place at the Two Bergen County Plaza administration building in Hackensack, NJ and consisted of an audience of county representatives, employees and members of the public.
“Today, I am honored to deliver my 11th State of the County Address. As I have before, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past year and outline the mission and goals my administration will continue to pursue in 2025,” said Tedesco.
Tedesco’s mission consists of maintaining Bergen County’s high quality of life, making the region more affordable and ensuring a safe environment for families to live among many other things.
Tedesco began his speech by thanking and acknowledging the efforts of Bergen County’s election workers. For the 2024 election process, 463,837 votes were cast, one of the largest turnouts in the country’s history. He commended their work, having to deal with new voting machines and extended early voting among other changes while maintaining the integrity of Bergen County’s elections.
He also mentioned the county’s strong fiscal standings, having an Aaa bond rating and flat debt ratio over the past four years. Despite challenges that may arise in the budget, they remain set on maintaining the county’s services.
In the address, Tedesco mentioned some of the major accomplishments from the county over the past year, including the launch of the Bergen Fiber Network, which has three municipalities using the network and nine more set to join. He also highlighted infrastructure investments, including the Route 17 expansion project and steady growth of Bergen County EMS.
Tedesco also emphasized his opposition to New York’s congestion pricing plan and support of continuing Bergen County’s blue laws.
He outlined some key initiatives for 2025 that the county will continue to work on including preparation for the FIFA World Cup. He also mentioned workforce housing at 133 River Street, which would provide affordable homes for teachers, first responders and healthcare workers. Other projects include the revitalization of Riverside County Park and the continued pursuit of shared services. All of these topics among others will be the center of discussions in the county throughout the year
“We’ve come a long way together. Over the years, we’ve faced challenges, but we’ve never backed down. We’ve built a county government that works smarter, spends responsibly, and delivers for everyone. And we’ve done it by working together,” said Tedesco. “But our work is not done. There’s plenty more to do, more to build, and more progress to make. Despite what we hear out of Washington, despite what we hear out of Trenton, know that this administration is committed to serving ALL of our residents… Whether it’s expanding access to quality education, investing in our infrastructure, keeping our communities safe, or making sure our seniors and veterans have the support they deserve, I promise you this administration will keep moving Bergen County forward.”
To show the county’s support of all citizens, Tedesco mentioned the PACE Program in collaboration with Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and Welbe Health. The program will expand healthcare services to almost 10,000 senior citizens.
As 2025 continues, Bergen County will continue to provide the best possible experience and services to its residents, as was made evident by Tedesco in his address.