There shall be a Department of Finance and Administration, the head of which shall be the County Treasurer who shall act as Director of the Department of Finance and Administration. The County Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the County. Prior to his/her/their appointment, he/she/they shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of his/her/their office. The Department of Finance and Administration shall be responsible for budget preparation. The Director shall be the principal revenue officer for the County.
A. 
The Director shall:
(1) 
Assist the County Executive in the orderly and efficient administration of the fiscal affairs of the County, perform whatever supervisory or administrative duties the County Executive deems necessary and proper and, in addition, shall exercise such powers and duties as hereinafter prescribed.
(2) 
Assist the County Executive in preparing and evaluating budget estimates and preparing comprehensive operating and capital budgets.
(3) 
Study present and future fiscal needs, consider alternative means of satisfying these needs, recommend to the County Executive new and revised fiscal programs and continually review existing operations to determine how they may be improved.
(4) 
Develop, install and enforce, to the extent practicable, a system of work programs and quarterly allotments of budget operations.
(5) 
Develop and report on the commitment and status of budget expenditures and appropriations and make, with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners and the County Executive, budget transfers at the time and in the manner prescribed by law.
(6) 
Assist the departments and other budgeted agencies in the evaluation and selection of federal, regional and state aid programs of interest to the County and expedite the requisite applications.
(7) 
Develop and maintain management information systems and technology which keep the County Executive informed of trends and progress in the County government and problems which may be anticipated.
B. 
The Director shall be the custodian of funds for the County Educational Audiovisual Aids Commission as provided by law.
[Amended 2-22-2024 by Ord. No. 121-2-2024]
The work of the Department of Finance and Administration shall be organized among and within divisions and offices designated as follows:
A. 
Division of Accounts and Control.
B. 
Division of Purchasing.
C. 
Division of Information Technology.
D. 
Tax Assessments.
E. 
Division of Personnel.
F. 
Budget Office.
G. 
Office of Grants Management.
H. 
Division of Housing and Community Development.
The Director of the Department may appoint a Deputy Director or Directors. The Deputy Director or Directors shall, during the absence or disability of the County Treasurer, possess all the powers and perform all the duties of the County Treasurer and in the event of a vacancy of that office shall act as County Treasurer until the appointment and qualification of a County Treasurer.
A. 
The head of the Division of Purchasing shall be the Qualified Purchasing Agent, as duly appointed by the Board of Chosen Commissioners pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-30. Under the direction and supervision of the Director, the Division shall:
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 803-12-2021]
(1) 
Install and maintain the County's central accounting system and records, as prescribed by the Director;
(2) 
Enforce the uniform system of accounts for all departments and other budgeted agencies under the County government, provided that such system shall, insofar as consistent with sound accounting principles, facilitate the production of records of the cost of performance of each functional program or activity, measured in such cost units as may be prescribed or approved by the Director and the County Executive;
(3) 
Preaudit all bills, claims and demands against the County, including payrolls;
(4) 
Require reports of receipts and disbursements of each department and any other budgeted agency to be made at such intervals as the Director may determine will most efficiently protect the County's interests;
(5) 
Operate and maintain a central payroll system covering all personnel paid out of funds appropriated by the Board;
(6) 
Control all expenditures to assure that budget appropriations and quarterly allotments are not exceeded; pass upon each proposed expenditure for conformity with the Charter and code; and authorize the payment of bills, claims and demands and payrolls upon the proper certification of the appropriate department head or designee and in accordance with the results of the preaudit;
(7) 
Receive, collect, deposit and distribute all funds of the County as may be provided by law;
(8) 
Upon the recommendation of the Director and the County Executive, maintain such depositories of County funds as the Board may designate, and maintain and reconcile records of deposits and withdrawals from all County depositories;
(9) 
Manage the investment of County funds, subject to the approval of the Director, pending their needs for current operations and have custody of all investments and invested funds of the County government or in the possession of the County in a fiduciary capacity, except as may be otherwise provided by law;
(10) 
Administer the County debt and have with the Director the safekeeping of all bonds and notes of the County and the receipt and delivery of County bonds and notes for transfer, registration or exchange;
(11) 
Make disbursements of County funds, upon warrant, by an individual warrant check for each bill, claim and demand authorized to be paid, as verified and allowed, except that a single warrant may be used for an entire payroll or part of a payroll;
(12) 
Be responsible for monitoring and disseminating data, with respect to individuals and groups, regarding employee retirement;
(13) 
Supervise all County auditing and financial verification and investigation procedures; and
(14) 
Be responsible for the accounting of the County fixed asset inventory.
B. 
No appropriation shall be encumbered and no expenditures shall be made by any department, unless the Director or his/her designee shall certify that there is an unencumbered balance of appropriations and funds available within the approved allotment. The Division shall install and maintain books and records of account for the exercise of the financial and budgetary controls herein required.
C. 
Each warrant check shall be authorized, signed and countersigned as provided in the code. The County Executive, with the consent of the Board of County Commissioners, may prescribe such additional procedures for the control of disbursements as may be desirable to protect the public interest.
D. 
Access to safe deposit boxes used or rented by the County shall be restricted to the Director jointly with the County Executive or his/her/their designee.
The head of the Division of Purchasing shall be the Division Chief and shall act as the County Purchasing Agent. The division, subject to the direction and supervision of the Director, shall establish, maintain and operate, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the County Executive, a centralized purchasing system for the procurement, storage and distribution of supplies, materials, contract services, equipment, real estate and insurance required by any and all County departments and budgeted agencies. The division shall also coordinate County bidding for contracts and shall be responsible for enforcing all contract provisions. The division shall cooperate with and encourage any and all joint purchases with and among municipalities.
The head of the Division of Information Technologies shall be the Chief of Information Technology Services. The Director may elect to have the Division of Information Technologies operated by a third-party vendor and not by County employees. The Division, subject to the control and supervision of the Director, shall:
A. 
Operate and maintain central facilities for electronic data processing and equipment maintenance for all departments and budgeted agencies except as otherwise directed by the County;
B. 
Prepare data for processing and provide reports, analyses and printouts as required;
C. 
Provide such services to other governmental agencies as shall be approved as required by law, including training on programs and software; and
D. 
Oversee the County's telecommunications needs.
[Amended 12-21-2021 by Ord. No. 803-12-2021]
The head of the Division of Tax Assessments shall be the County Tax Administrator, as appointed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 54:3-7 et seq. Under the direction and supervision of the Director, the Division shall:
A. 
Have, exercise and discharge all of the functions, powers and duties of a County Board of Taxation under state statutes, except the functions of hearing appeals from municipal assessments and relating to the County equalization tables;
B. 
In cooperation with the Division of Information Technologies and/or the Office of Digital Information, develop, install and supervise systems of electronic data processing for the preparation of municipal property tax rolls and duplicates;
C. 
Develop and administer cooperative assessing programs under contract with one or more municipalities of the County organized into tax assessment districts; and
D. 
Provide staff services for the County Board of Taxation.
The head of the Division of Personnel shall be the Division Chief. The Division, subject to the direction and supervision of the Director, shall:
A. 
Develop and administer the County's personnel programs, including up-to-date job classifications and pay plans, active recruitment of needed personnel and in-service training programs;
B. 
Design, install and maintain a current database of personnel records for each County officer and employee including the education, training and experience of the employee, any professional or trade licenses held, all personnel action taken with respect to the employee, compensation, retirement benefits, civil service and pension status and such other pertinent information as the Director or County Executive may direct or require;
C. 
Develop, shall and administer an orderly procedure for the consideration, review and adjustment of personnel problems;
D. 
Coordinate and process the appointment and removal of County employees within the various departments and, to this end, review and report to the Director and County Executive on proposed appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline and discharges;
E. 
Study present and future area labor market trends and wage levels;
F. 
Assist the Director and County Executive in evaluating the personnel component of future program needs;
G. 
Implement and supervise a County Civil Service office;
H. 
Develop, install and administer orientation training programs for County employees;
I. 
Design, amend, update and present to the Director or County Executive and the Board for adoption an equal employment opportunity program that shall prohibit discrimination in the employment, continued employment, disciplinary actions, advancement or promotion of an employee or applicant for employment because of sex, race, creed or national origin and comply with all state and federal requirements;
J. 
Design, amend, update and present to the Director or County Executive and the Board for adoption an affirmative action plan that will serve to recruit, employ, promote and advance, within all levels and areas of County government, meaningful and effective minority representation;
K. 
Negotiate and execute contracts, grants, subgrants and agreements as authorized by the County Executive, subject to the approval of the Board;
L. 
Designate an employee to act as Affirmative Action Officer, who shall:
(1) 
Assist in the implementation of approved affirmative action hiring plans; and
(2) 
Develop an effective monitoring and evaluation plan for affirmative action compliance.
M. 
Assume the responsibility for both nonoccupational and occupational disability programs, health and medical programs, and all other employee benefit programs.
There shall be within the Department of Finance and Administration a Budget Office, which shall be headed by the Budget Officer. Under the supervision of the Director, the Budget Officer shall:
A. 
Develop and prepare budget estimates and a comprehensive operating and capital budget for the County.
B. 
Prepare estimates and projections for impact of labor agreements and other contracts on budget operations.
C. 
Prepare periodic reports on budget operations for management review.
D. 
Prepare and maintain amortization tables to ensure timely payment and compliance of County debt.
A. 
Within the Department there shall be an Office of Grants Management, the head of which shall be the Office Administrator. Under the direction and supervision of the Office Administrator, the Office shall:
(1) 
Be responsible for all programmatic and fiscal compliance duties as may be required under the terms and conditions of all grants which the County of Hudson applies for and accepts;
(2) 
Conduct a continuing audit, study, evaluation, and review of all County administrative operations, as well as all internal audits and compliance with policies and procedures in the various departments, divisions, and offices, audit all grants and grant applications, and make recommendations to improve the performance, efficiency and economy of County government, monitor all County grants to ensure fiscal and program compliance, and audit and pre-audit all grants and grant applications.
[Added 2-22-2024 by Ord. No. 121-2-2024]
Within the Department there shall be a Division of Housing and Community Development, the head of which shall be the Division Chief. Under the direction of the Director the Division shall:
A. 
Oversee the HUD Community Development Block Grant Program.
B. 
Oversee the HUD Home Investment Partnership Program.
C. 
Oversee the HUD Emergency Solutions Grant Program.
D. 
Oversee the HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program.
E. 
Oversee such other state funds received or County funds dedicated to develop community-based needs programs or programs relative to developing affordable housing or housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or those at risk at becoming homeless.
F. 
Head the Hudson County Alliance to End Homelessness.
G. 
Oversee Continuum of Care ("CoC") activities and funding.
H. 
Serve as manager of Comprehensive Emergency Assistance System of Social Services for the Homeless funds.
I. 
Serve as the lead agency and collaborative applicant for CoC funding from HUD.
J. 
Administer the Hudson County Homelessness Trust Fund.
K. 
Oversee the Social Service for the Homeless program in providing assistance to non-welfare-eligible individuals and families, either experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
L. 
Oversee current programs and grants and interact with the community to expand and/or implement new programs to provide affordable housing and community development.
M. 
Collaborate with the Division of Community Reintegration to provide oversight of the County Winter Warming Center.
N. 
Collaborate with the Division of Community Reintegration and the Office of Social Services to ensure that all Department programs and efforts are maximized in order to meet the needs of the community.