Gloucester County Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney said the reason the freeholder board here was able to keep the tax rate flat for next year's budget was due to good planning.

"Even in good times, we plan for bad times," Sweeney said. "We recognize the bad times will come."

The freeholders will hold a public hearing on Wednesday on a budget that calls for cuts in county spending by $1.4 million over last year, keeping the county tax rate stable.

Other counties in South Jersey didn't come out as lucky as Gloucester County.

In Burlington County, for example, freeholders are preparing for more than 70 layoffs. The union there, Communications Workers of America Local 1036, refused to open up contracts and take concessions, said Ralph Strom, spokesperson for Burlington County. Their budget was adopted last Wednesday.

In Gloucester County, Sweeney said the only layoffs county workers may experience are grant-funded positions. However, the union and freeholder board agreed union members would take two furlough days.

However, 34 positions will be eliminated due to attrition, saving about $1.6 million.

In Salem County, where the budget was adopted two weeks ago, the tax rate was reduced slightly and county workers will suffer no layoffs and no furlough days.

Freeholders in Cumberland County have yet to introduce the budget, but are already looking at the possibility of up to 55 county jobs lost. Officials there are going back to their budget to try and close the $2 to $3 million budget gap before introduction this month.

Officials also said that there is still a possibility to negotiate with unions representing county workers for concessions.

Joyce Gabriel, Camden County spokesperson, said the county's budget is still being finalized. The freeholders have proposed to impose 13 furlough days on its non-public safety personnel Ð every other Friday from July 2 to Dec. 17 Ð to save $1.5 million.

This year, Gloucester County isn't starting any big projects, but $13.8 million will be invested in highway infrastructure, said Freeholder Deputy Director Robert Damminger. Over $10 million of that is from state and federal grants.

About $21 million of capital spending is included in Burlington County's budget and $18 million of that is going into county roads and bridges, Strom said. Two-thirds of that is outside funding and stimulus money.

Strom also said that Burlington County is spending about $1.4 million for highways and $750,000 on updating computer equipment

"In the past, we've had a lot more in the way of capital projects," Strom said. "We certainly have buildings that need improvement, but for the most part, all of that is on hold."

Here in Gloucester County, some projects included in the grant and aid funding are resurfacing and safety improvements to Mount Royal Road in Mantua Township and Grove Road in West Deptford Township, bridge replacement in Logan and Monroe townships, and Holly Avenue drainage improvements in Pitman.

Gloucester County was also able to save about $2.6 million by sharing services with Gloucester County College, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, the library system here, and other agencies.

Strom in Burlington County said officials there are focusing on consolidation, especially on the highway and engineering administrative sides.

"We're making creative adjustments here as well," Strom said.

Sweeney said of the budget for Gloucester County that "we're in much better shape" than others right now.

The public hearing will be held at the county courthouse in Woodbury at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.