An update from your County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone

Dear Monmouth County Residents,

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July holiday! I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who have served our great nation and protected our freedom. Your service and dedication are deeply appreciated.

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To celebrate the holiday, I participated in the annual Ocean Grove Fourth of July Parade. As always, it was wonderful to walk the route and see everyone dressed in their best patriotic attire, waving American flags.

Switching gears, my fellow Commissioners and I are urging the state to allocate tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales to addiction services. On June 13, we had the pleasure of attending the K.E.Y.S. Academy graduation at Brookdale Community College. For those who may not know, K.E.Y.S. Academy—Knowledge Empowers Youth and Sobriety—is an extension of the Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District and is one of only three Recovery High Schools in New Jersey. LEARN MORE ABOUT KEYS IN THIS TAP ARTICLE HERE.

This free program provides support and education to high school students with substance-use disorders who seek a way to graduate high school and live a healthy, sober life. It was awe-inspiring to hear about these young adults' successes and the challenges they’ve overcome—and continue to overcome.

The success stories encompass the graduates’ resiliency, dedication and perseverance and we could not be prouder of their commitment to their education and their sobriety.The efforts and dedication of the teachers, counselors and staff of the K.E.Y.S. Academy are truly admirable and evident through the graduates’ achievements.

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According to K.E.Y.S. Academy, the funding for this program is provided by the New Jersey Department of Education under the Recovery Access Grant. Unfortunately, they have seen a substantial reduction in their budget this year. This reduction in funding has real-world consequences for the students, staff and counselors. We must find ways to keep programs like K.E.Y.S Academy available to students and families who need them.

Therefore, the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is urging the state to allocate a percentage of the tax revenue from the sale of recreational marijuana to addiction services, which should include the Recovery High Schools in New Jersey. While my fellow Commissioners and I did not support the legalization of recreational marijuana, the law was passed, and now the state is claiming that they are bringing in millions of dollars from the taxation of it. I cannot think of a more worthwhile way to use a portion of that tax revenue than for addiction services.

Lastly, I am excited to announce that the Monmouth County Fair will return from Wednesday, July 24, through Sunday, July 28, at the East Freehold Showgrounds located at 1500 Kozloski Rd.

We are thrilled to partner once again with our County Park System and 4-H Association to host the 2024 Monmouth County Fair. This fun-filled summer event is eagerly anticipated by residents and visitors each year, and we can’t wait to see everyone there.

The Fair will be open from 4-11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (July 24-26); from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday (July 27); and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (July 28). General admission is $10 per adult, with free admission for children 12 and under, as well as veterans and active military with ID. On Sunday, individuals who are 65 and older and students with ID are admitted free. New this year is half-price admission during the first two hours each day (4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday).

For more information about the Monmouth County Fair, visit monmouthcountyfair.com .
As always, it is my pleasure to serve as your Commissioner Director.

Sincerely,
Tom Arnone
Commissioner Director, Monmouth County

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