Local Taxes

[bdlaw]

I am under the belief that a lot of the people who are demanding pension reform and healthcare reform think that the city/state employees are getting a free ride. They aren't.

 
I know people will volunteer for free for City positions. Fire, Police and other positions. A lot of jobless folks would be more than happy to give their services to the City. Without pay and without pensions. I think we need to give them the opportunity. I'd like to see the council set this up.

You cannot "volunteer and get a pension"

There is much confusion about the pension system in some of these posts. Each employee pays a % of their current salary into their retirement pension. It's automatically deducted from their paycheck. I think you are confusing this with health benefits.

RIF, folks.

It doesn't say "volunteer and get a pension"; in fact it says exactly the opposite.  Fill some positions with unpaid, no benefits volunteers.

[jehu]

I am under the belief that a lot of the people who are demanding pension reform and healthcare reform think that the city/state employees are getting a free ride. They aren't.

 
I know people will volunteer for free for City positions. Fire, Police and other positions. A lot of jobless folks would be more than happy to give their services to the City. Without pay and without pensions. I think we need to give them the opportunity. I'd like to see the council set this up.

You cannot "volunteer and get a pension"

There is much confusion about the pension system in some of these posts. Each employee pays a % of their current salary into their retirement pension. It's automatically deducted from their paycheck. I think you are confusing this with health benefits.

[MCA]

Council members spar in filling Jersey City Incinerator Authority post; vote on stripping benefits looms
Thursday, February 18, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A seemingly routine appointment to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority set off a heated debate between City Council members at last night's meeting.

While members of the Jersey City Incinerator Authority are not paid, they receive health benefits from the city. Among the dozens of boards in the city, the JCIA and Municipal Utilities Authority are the only ones that grant members benefits.

Councilman Steven Fulop introduced an ordinance last week that would eliminate those benefits. It was set to be voted on last Wednesday, but the meeting was canceled due to the snow storm.

Because ordinances must be advertised to the public, Fulop's ordinance couldn't be placed on last night's agenda and will instead be heard at next week's meeting.

When a resolution appointing Roger Hejazi to the JCIA came up, Fulop questioned whether he was willing to serve without benefits. Councilwoman Viola Richardson spoke with Hejazi, who told her he would be if the ordinance passes.

Fulop countered that the resolution should be amended to reflect that Hejazi would waive his benefits. But Richardson said she didn't ask Hejazi if he would waive benefits, in case Fulop's ordinance fails and the other members still have benefits.

Reached before the meeting, Hejazi said he already has health benefits and wasn't relying on the city benefits. But he did say it was a perk to serving.

"This is a no-pay job," he said. "So there has to be something for the time you spend being there. You have to do a lot of stuff. It's not just going to a meeting."

Fulop said eliminating benefits for both authorities would save nearly $400,000 annually and said even eliminating benefits for one member would make a difference.

The resolution appointing Hejazi passed 8-1 with Fulop voting against it.

[Pinky]

 
I know people will volunteer for free for City positions. Fire, Police and other positions. A lot of jobless folks would be more than happy to give their services to the City. Without pay and without pensions. I think we need to give them the opportunity. I'd like to see the council set this up.

You cannot "volunteer and get a pension"

There is much confusion about the pension system in some of these posts. Each employee pays a % of their current salary into their retirement pension. It's automatically deducted from their paycheck. I think you are confusing this with health benefits.

[jehu]

Might be insurance issues with that. Imagine a volunteer dog catcher bring home their work, only to have those dogs attack a neighbor... 

[nugnfutz]

Oh and why not make 10% of all City jobs voluntary? Not only Police and Fire....but all Jobs.

Ok. Healy has made a lot of publicity of hiring 260+ new members of the JCPD. Well, we taxpayers end up paying for that.  And Healy reaps the benefits with 260++ new people on his HCDO machine voter list. Every new City job created and every City job saved, keeps these idiots in power. It's why Healy will never go after job cuts, pension cuts nor anything that impacts his power base.

I know people will volunteer for free for City positions. Fire, Police and other positions. A lot of jobless folks would be more than happy to give their services to the City. Without pay and without pensions. I think we need to give them the opportunity. I'd like to see the council set this up.

[nugnfutz]

 
Oh and why not make 10% of all City jobs voluntary? Not only Police and Fire....but all Jobs.

[nugnfutz]

An Open Letter to Mayor Healy and the Jersey City Council regarding the FY 2010 Budget and impending tax increases that I will be mailing them on Monday.

..........

Best post of the year imo.

[gordonh]

The city has put the Petition of Appeal on their website.  I didn't realize that there is a filing fee for appealing.  Has anyone gone through this process before? 

[Pinky]

The employees do pay co-payments on prescriptions that are filled in a pharmacy and have always paid co-payments for all Doctor visits and Emergency room visits. All employees pay a % of their current salary into their retirement pension and it's deducted out of each paycheck.

[duke_of_earl]

Possibly the first use of the word humongous in a political letter that I've ever read.  Great analysis.  I'm glad someone read the budget critically.  You are dead on with "Other expenses", I imagine that category would disappear if the departments were forced to itemize.

duke

[FGJCNJ1970]

An Open Letter to Mayor Healy and the Jersey City Council regarding the FY 2010 Budget and impending tax increases that I will be mailing them on Monday.

Dear Mr. Mayor and Jersey City Council Members.

I am writing this letter because of my deep concern over the FY2010 budget that was introduced recently and the impending humongous Property Tax increases that will result.  Increases that are over and above the 11.25% tax increase that was already imposed on us back in July 2009 at a 5 o’clock “rush-hour” council meeting that had little to no advance notice, so that no one would show up.

Well I was there in July, and even spoke at that council meeting.  I said, “The People of Jersey City are hurting”.   Many of us, myself included, have lost our private sector jobs during this “Great Recession”.  And despite what the pundits are saying on Wall Street, things have not gotten better and the CHANGE we were promised – both nationally, and here locally in Jersey City, HAS NOT COME.   The only change we have gotten, has been in our taxes… Up and UP and AWAY.

Unfortunately, while I am still out of work, since October of 2008, and have had to do my own cutting back and significant belt tightening, I have not seen the city do ANY cutting whatsoever.  It’s business as usual there at City Hall.  Bloated Budgets, “Do Nothing” bureaucracy and now corruption that reigns the day.   There has been no sacrifice at City Hall or with our municipal government.  You find it easier to just raise taxes on the citizens than to make tough choices.

At the last City Council meeting that I attended at the end of January, it was quite obvious; not one of the city council members had really spent any time with the budget.  In fact, the budget in places looks just like 2009 actual numbers carried over.  Frankly, I think someone was lazy when putting it together.  And apparently, with the exception of maybe Mr. Steven Fulop, everybody else is just “Yes” men and women to Mayor Healy and don’t have the true interests of the citizens of Jersey City at heart when they approved this budget.   You are supposed to represent “US” the people of Jersey City.  This FY 2010 budget that is 7 months late is not representative of the People of Jersey City and it does not have our best interests at heart.

While I’ve seen the recent stories about the 4 firehouses being closed… and how seasonal workers are now being let go, really… this is a big shell game. It’s the same as usual.  No one lost his or her job with the four firehouses.   If you read the Jersey Journal article closely, they were all conveniently “reassigned”.  And I believe “firehouses” share physical facilities with ladder companies and other emergency divisions… so this will result in no savings absolutely whatsoever.  It’s a paper accounting trick.  And those seasonal jobs – they are seasonal for a reason…. They’ll be back just in time for next year I’m sure.  And the 12 furlough days that Jersey City’s had?  With a union subsequently complaining and crying foul?  Try being out of work completely for a year and 5 months with no income and no health insurance.  It sucks, so stop complaining.

Instead of continuing to tax and spend our way to fiscal destruction, what we need are real cuts.  Significant cuts.  Layoffs at City Hall and at every government agency and entity needs to take place until we get a balanced budget that does not impose hefty tax increases on us, the citizens of this fine city.  To start, all those political appointment jobs and patronage positions have got to go.

Finally, Mr. Mayor, City Council members, since you can’t do it right, let me help.  I downloaded the Jersey City budget that was submitted and, since I have some time on my hands, I have reviewed it and I have some suggestions for you.  But, until this bloated budget is amended with BIG cuts…. It cannot be passed in its current state.

Here are my suggestions…. Starting with expenses first.

Health Care and Retirement Pension Plans.   

These have to be addressed.   The Health Care Insurance plan for the city should be sent out for re-bid from multiple insurance providers to ensure the city is getting the best deal.  $69 million is INSANE.  Stop offering expensive “Cadillac” plans.  Additionally, like the private sector, city employees should start to have to pay co-pays.    $5 co-pays for prescriptions and $20 co-pays for doctor’s visits are not going to hurt anybody.  Time for JC employees to start chipping in like the rest of us.  The free ride for city employees has to stop.   Retirement Pensions need to be looked at as well – especially for police and fire as it’s now upwards of $34 million and growing.  City employees need to start making more contributions – similar to employees in the private sector.


Accumulated Vacation and Sick Days. 

This is on Sheet 3C.  THIS IS INSANE!  Jersey City employees have 265,942 days that they need to take and it’s costing us almost $74 million dollars in 2010.  Negotiated through “Approved Labor Agreements”.  Time to re-think this big time.  Many private sector employers have USE IT OR LOOSE IT vacation and sick day policies.  Jersey City needs to follow suit.  Other municipalities across the US have switched and Jersey City should too.  Otherwise this will continue to be a big liability.  Plus, sick days are supposed to be sick days – 3 or 4 a year when sick.  You should not be allowed to take extra sick days because you weren’t sick 5 years ago.


OTHER EXPSENSES

This line item appears over and over and over again in the budget.  54 TIMES to be exact.  What are these OTHER EXPENSES?  There needs to be more significant cuts in other expenses versus 2009.  The Office of the City Clerk’s expenses went up $7,000.  But there are some real whoppers.  “Other Expenses” for the Management and Budget Office (Sheet 13, line 256) went from $48,475 in 2009 to OVER $337,000.   What’s going on here?  That’s a huge increase.  Cut here now.

Are there really over $1,284,000 in other expenses in the Engineering Office?  REALLY?  It’s down from 2009, but should be cut more.

Other expenses in Information Technology are $1,452,200.  CUT THIS Big time.  Hold off on computer purchases.  Computers should last 3-4 years easily.  I’m positive IT Other Expenses can be cut more.  Check out the new Best Buy for sales.  Renegotiate all IT contracts for cost savings.

Other Expenses in Collections is up about $16,000.  And other expenses for the TAX ASSESSOR jumped by $146,100 versus 2009.  How bout some BIG CUTS for the Tax Assessor’s office versus big tax increases.

The Law Department’s Other Expenses (Sheet 15A line 396) has swelled to $1,021,500.  Up over $36,750.  What are these new legal expenses?  Take away their photocopier or whatever it is that is running up their costs.

Building and Street Maintenance.  Yes, “Other Expenses” are down here from 2009, however at $1,611,800, it’s still a big amount.  Not sure we’re getting our money’s worth here either.

Automotive Services (Sheet 15C, Line 416).  More cuts need to take place here.  At $2,452,700 this is a big amount for “Other Expenses”  I have a suggestion, the City Council can start by turning in their cars.  Also, limo / car services need to be cut.  Also, older cars in the fleet should be gotten rid of and more fuel efficient cars obtained.  But this could be cut more.  Limit use of personal cars for city work.  Buses, jitneys,  PATH, Light Rail and walking all are acceptable options for transportation.

“Other Expenses” for Health (Sheet 15D, line 511) shot up by $55,000 to $666,091.  What happened here?  Are we really healthier?

“Other Expenses” for Fire at $1,415,700 and for Police at $2,589,400 while down slightly from 2009, still seem excessive.  Can’t more cuts for non-essential “other expense” take place? 

In TOTAL (from sheet 25, line 60023-11) OTHER EXPENSES have jumped dramatically to $67,563, 374 up from $44,505,338.   That’s a $23 million increase.  Instead of raising our taxes, cut “Other Expenses” back to 2009 levels.

OTHER AREAS THAT CAN BE CUT – from Sheet 16 & 17

- ATM - Aid to Museum and AAM - Aid to African American Museum can be cut more
- 879 - Municipal Publicity has jumped to $64,000 from $30,000.  Cut this back down.
- 880 – Other Advertising – cut more
- 881 – Celebration of Public Events – organizations need to cover more costs
- 884 – Professional Affiliations – Cut here.  What are these affiliations anyway and what do we get?
- Ambulance Service – jumped to over $3,540,000 from $3,344,000.  Maybe send 3 ambulances instead of four?  And shouldn’t accident insurance be covering some of this?
- Electricity – turn off the lights, get motion sensors, switch light bulbs to energy saving CFLs or LED lights.
- 888 – Gasoline – take away personal cars, get rid of gas guzzling SUVs, renegotiate contracts.
- 887 – Office Services, this jumped by $57,000 from 2009.  Cut, cut cut.


Revenue Generation

Now, once the “Other Expenses” category has been cut, the other side of the equation is that Jersey City needs to really focus on raising revenues through fees and other charges and levies–not through increased property taxes.  Here are some thoughts as overall, revenues are flat or down in the FY 2010 budget.

-   Issue more Alcoholic Beverage Licenses – there are many restaurants without who I know want them.  Make sure existing licenses are renewed.
-   Lets get more people married. 
-   Cable TV Franchise Fees need to be increased for more revenue to the city
-   Start Charging more in Advertising Ordinance Fees
-   Why are there ZERO Demolition fees?  Don’t permits have to be issued?  I know demolition is going on all over the place.
-   Increase Hotel Occupancy Taxes…. Many new hotels around
-   Sewer and Street Opening Revenue is down yet development continues.  Raise fees on developers.
-   Vending Machine Licenses… I see vending machines all over the place, but we only get $23,688 in revenue…. Time to bump up fees and enforce. 
-   Food Establishment Licenses…. Make more available, but charge more also.  Let the food carts operate wherever…. For a “location” fee of course.
-   Hotel and Motel Licenses – Charge more
-   Dine and Dance Permits.  We only got $7,100 in 2009 and the same amount is budgeted for 2010.  Hit up those nightclubs.  Charge more for fees.
-   Elevator inspection fees…. Up the fees…. And hit the downtown commercial and residential high-rise developments with lots of “elevator inspections”
-   Site Plan review fees.  For FY 2009 we got $444,515, but are only now budgeting $300,000.  Why?  Increase fees here to adjust for lower volume.
-   Increase Parking Lot License Fees, Street Parking Permit Fees and increase Parking Lot Taxes.  We have great public transportation options.  If you have a car, you can pay a little more for the privilege of parking it.
-   Uniform Construction Code Fees also need to be increased. 

Other items such as grants are missing (See Sheet 5).  Jersey City is on track to be New Jersey’s largest city with the 2010 census, yet I see a big ZERO for the Municipal Homeland Security Assistance Aid.  What?  This could really help offset our bloated police and fire department budgets.

Additionally, we are receiving ZERO  funding for the UEZ Police Program.  Last year we got $1,345,045 in revenue from this.  Also, no revenue for Neighborhood Preservation programs.  What about revenue from NJDOT?  In 2009 we got $1,250,997.  2010 is ZERO.  (Sheet 9)

Why are we not getting a UEZ business relocation grant again this year?  No Safe Routes to Schools money either.  Last year we had $1 million and $250,000 respectively.

What happened to the $85,000 for seniors that came in in 2009.  It’s gone for 2010. 

In 2009, we got big money -  $2,628,175 for the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant – Fire.  This year ZERO. We also have no money from the Metropolitan Medical Response System – Fire.  In 2009, we got $321,221.

No Safe and Secure Communities funding either.  In 2009 we got $392,823.  On Sheet 9C there is no revenue coming in for Senior Nutrition.  The year prior we got $1,148,932.  No Clean Communities Revenue either.

Apparently no one at City Hall is working to get all the Federal, State and other grant monies that are available.  Why?  WHY?  WHY?

Why is revenue from Recycling Tonnage down significantly?  Down over $117,000.  I know you guys are inspecting for recycling violations… you cited everyone in my condo.  So where is the money from recycling? 

Revenue from fees to offices such as Harbor Plaza IV, and V and South pier are flat or down.  Why?  If anything these financial services companies should be charged more fees.

And, finally…. For all those who got 5, 10, 15 and 30 year sweetheart tax abatements (Sheets 10A – 10G) and make Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), where money is diverted from our schools and the county.  Lets create a new fee just for them… especially if they are sending their children to our public schools.

Call this new fee the “Gold Coast & Luxury Living Educational Assessment Surcharge” This fee should be a percentage of the difference of what they are paying in their PILOTS and what they would pay normally in regular real estate taxes.  It is unfair that those with abated “luxury” properties don’t have to pay for our local schools and other services they receive from the City and County municipal governments.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Mayor, City Council Members, you MUST revisit and fix the 2010 budget.  There are major issues with the budget as it currently stands.  If you focus of significant cuts to “Other Expenses”, and then focus on revenue generation through increased fees for services and other areas you can halt the need to raise large property taxes on the citizens of this city. 

If I can go through the budget and see things that look out of line, surely you can do a better job at refining the budget.   Go back to the drawing board and revise this budget to cut spending.  You can also look at Salaries and Wages, which in certain departments have increased as well - despite a hiring and raises freeze that was supposed to be in effect.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I will be at the City Council meeting on February 25th to again protest this budget that will result in crazy property taxes.  Please fix it now and resubmit.

Respectfully,


FG

[nugnfutz]

Some resources

You can check you assessed value and even generate your appeal here:
[url]http://www.easytaxfix.com/[/url]

You can download the appeals form and instructions for completing here:
[url]http://www.hudsoncountytax.com/Forms/A-1.pdf[/url]

You can check your property details as held by the tax office on these websites:
[url]http://www.hudsoncountytax.com/[/url]
(using search on bottom left)
and
[url]https://www.cityofjerseycity.com/WebTaxInquiry/AccountSearch.aspx[/url]

You can get some idea of your property value at
[url=http://www.zillow.com]www.zillow.com[/url]

If you have any questions on the appeal process you can contact the City Assessors on (201) 547-5132 or in person at
    City of Jersey City
    280 Grove Street
    Jersey City, NJ 07302

Or from the Hudson County offices at:
    Hudson County Board of Taxation
   Hudson County Plaza
   257 Cornelison Ave 3rd Floor
   Jersey City, NJ 07302
   Phone: 201.395.6260
   Fax: 201.395.6263

[MCA]

Jersey City is laying off nearly 280 employees
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
February 12, 2010, 11:08AM

Nearly 280 Jersey City employees will be terminated Feb. 26 to help the city close a multi-million dollar budget deficit.

Jennifer Morrill, a spokeswoman for Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, confirmed late yesterday that 278 employees will be laid off. That includes 240 seasonal workers, 36 provisional employees and two unclassified employees. None of the positions are civil service, which would require more advance notice before layoffs. Affected employees will receive official notices Tuesday, Morrill said.

The layoffs will save about $1.3 million for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. Morrill said it would amount to nearly $4.3 million in savings for Fiscal Year 2011, which starts July 1. It’s unclear what impact the cuts would have on the proposed tax hike.

The city council rushed to introduce its $492 million operating budget last month in order to accept $14 million in state aid.
The budget is $31.6 million higher than the previous fiscal year and carries a $190 million tax levy, up $40 million from the previous year. Without cuts, the proposed budget would raise taxes by about $800 for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000, city officials said.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget, which is still has time to amend, Feb. 24. The city has taken other steps to close the budget gap. Healy announced last month that four fire companies are closing and the city’s arson unit was being scaled back. While that doesn’t put any firefighters out of work, Morrill said the move would cut back on overtime costs.

[The Badger]

For what it's worth:
[url]http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-jersey-city-tax-increase.html[/url]

[nugnfutz]

Why don't we get every JC homeowner to challenge their property tax bill. And I mean every one. Any way of getting a lawyer to take this case and represent us? Let's pool our resources and give the City and county hell on their property assessments.

[duke_of_earl]

As the city prepares the budget, it has attempted to make cuts. In a prepared statement, Mayor Jerramiah Healy stated that the city has dropped the number of fire companies from 26 to 22 and has asked department directors to make “sizeable cuts in their budgets.”

Asking them is useless.  Every department director will come crying back to Healy with stories about how they *need* every cent and please give them more.

The mayor admitted that this is not going to fix the budget, but said, “Unfortunately, despite these drastic measures, there will still be a tax increase due to increased costs and decline in revenue.”

Just wait until next year when revenues decrease even more and expenditures continue to increase.

duke

[speaknj]

<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9112446&amp;amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;amp;show_title=1&amp;amp;show_byline=1&amp;amp;show_portrait=0&amp;amp;color=&amp;amp;fullscreen=1" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=9112446&amp;amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;amp;show_title=1&amp;amp;show_byline=1&amp;amp;show_portrait=0&amp;amp;color=&amp;amp;fullscreen=1</a>
Public Protests Tax Increases in Jersey City

[MCA]

JC  Reporter:


Taxes to rise; residents angry
Hundreds protest at City Council meeting
by Brain Furgione
Reporter Correspondent

Despite protests from scores of Jersey City residents at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, the council voted to exceed state-imposed budget spending limits and increase taxes this year.

The council passed the ordinance to exceed limits by a vote of 5-3. Councilman Mariano Vega Jr. was absent from the meeting. Councilman Steven Fulop, Councilwoman Viola Richardson, and Councilwomen Nidia Lopez were the “nay” votes.

Despite $14 million in aid given to Jersey City by the state, the city’s $507 million budget is expected to result in a major tax increase this year.

Introduced Jan. 13, more than six months into the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the budget is up $32 million over 2008-2009. It asks the public to contribute more than $195 million in taxes, up $44 million over last year.

The increased tax levy, and city employee furloughs expected to save $2 million, are attempts to close a budget deficit conservatively estimated to be over $40 million.

The budget runs from last July 1 through this coming June 30, 2010. Local budgets are often late as cities wait for state aid numbers.

Property owners pay one “overall tax” that is comprised of the city tax (the one affected by the city budget), the county tax, and the school tax.

Distrust
Councilman Fulop said Wednesday that he understood the people’s “distrust” in the governing body and would continue to vote “no” as he has done in the past, saying it wasn’t fair to burden the taxpayers for the city government’s lack of fiscal responsibility.

When the budget was introduced Jan. 13, Fulop estimated the increased tax levy would cost taxpayers an additional $800 for a $100,000 property in the first quarter alone.

‘What have you done for this city?’
The residents demonstrated their approval of Fulop, Richardson, and Lopez’s votes with a large roar of applause and whistling, although Councilwoman Richardson asked them not to shout their approval.

Each vote to pass the ordinance was met by swarms of boos and jeers from the townspeople.

When the ordinance was opened for public comment, residents voiced their concerns and waved signs stating “Crooks, bring our tax money back from the Cayman Islands” and “Stop Taxes Now!”

City resident Yvonne Balcer questioned the governing body on why they try to provide affordable housing, but disregard the thought of affordable taxes.

“We can not live from hand to mouth anymore,” she said. Her plea resulted in cheering and a standing ovation from the audience.

During the open public hearing, more than 40 people signed up to voice their concerns. One by one, residents filed to the microphone, each telling the council a similar version of the same tale.

Some residents offered their alternatives to higher taxes, such as asking part-time city workers to give up benefits, cell phones, and city cars. They questioned why so many tax abatements were given to bail out developers. May pleaded with the council to find another way to tame the budget.

Esther Wintner called the council a bunch of “Corruptacrats.” When she asked the City Council, “What have you done for this city?” the crowd answered for them, blaring, “Nothing!”

City Clerk Robert Byrne finally got her to relinquish the podium as Ms. Wintner went over the allotted time of five minutes. She led the crowd in a chant of “No More Taxes!” while Council President Peter Brennan struggled to bring the room back to order.

As the city prepares the budget, it has attempted to make cuts. In a prepared statement, Mayor Jerramiah Healy stated that the city has dropped the number of fire companies from 26 to 22 and has asked department directors to make “sizeable cuts in their budgets.”

The mayor admitted that this is not going to fix the budget, but said, “Unfortunately, despite these drastic measures, there will still be a tax increase due to increased costs and decline in revenue.”

[MCA]

Jersey City residents protest tax hike at City Council meeting
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
January 27, 2010, 10:28PM

Chanting "no more taxes" hundreds of city council residents flooded tonight's Jersey City Council meeting. More than 300 people attended tonight's meeting after getting their quarterly tax bills.

In a rush to include $14 million in state state aid before Jon S. Corzine left the governor's office, the City Council introduced a $492 million budget that if left unchanged could hike taxes for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 by as much as $800. The budget, which could be finalized in March, is for the current fiscal year that ends June 30.

Residents stepped up to the microphone pleading with council members to lessen the blow and offering suggestions like eliminating cars for council members and city employees. Another suggestion was eliminating benefits for part-time employees and appointees to city boards and commissions, a measure Councilman Steven Fulop said he plans to introduce at the next meeting.

The residents urged the council to make the tough decisions they have had to make in their own lives while facing pay cuts, layoffs and increased health care costs. The rally was organized through the Web site JCList.com.

Esther Wintner drew applause when she said, "I am not your ATM." John Lynch, another resident who organized tonight's rally, said he hopes to see the same crowd at the next City Council meeting.

While the public hearing on the budget isn't until next month, there was an ordinance, which is approved annually, that would allow the city to exceed the state budget cap. Fulop, Councilwoman Nidia Lopez and Councilwoman Viola Richardson voted against the measure after hearing lengthy testimony from residents. Councilman Mariano Vega was absent.

[nugnfutz]

Can we start a kinda poll if possible?

Meaning can we put up every name of the JC council, then against them put up every vote they have over the year on spending, rebates/pilots, debt issuance and the like? It would be good to show who voted for what and when. Particularly those pols who have no regard for fiscal responsibility/accountability.

[duke_of_earl]

I presume this is the same rally mentioned below in an email I received from One Jersey City.  I think the Vega's planning a furlough that day.

duke


--------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Taxes
Municipal Budget

We are calling on all Jersey City tax payers (property owners and renters) to speak to your elected
representatives about the newly introduced budget that could mean a substantial increase in our property tax bills. Please come out to the
City Council meeting at City Hall (280 Grove St.) on Wednesday January 27th at 6pmto demand that real changes are made to address a
situation that greatly burdens Jersey City residents.

With budget shortfalls and new education costs imminent, the mayor and most members of the city council have not presented a comprehensive strategy
to stabilize or reduce property taxes. Many of our tax dollars go to pay for a loaded government bureaucracy formed through nepotism and
patronage. We are left with a government that is ineffectual, inefficient, and EXPENSIVE. This must change and we encourage all of
you to come to the City Council meeting to let your voices be heard. Let the council members know that a tax increase is UNACCEPTABLE.
If you plan on speaking be sure to contact the Office of the City Clerk by Tuesday at 201.547.5150.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

[duke_of_earl]

"It's enough," she said. "I have yet to see the City Council do what many people have had to go through now, which is take a reduction in salary. A lot of people have taken a reduction in salary to save their jobs."

City workers have taken a hit. They have been forced to take 12 furlough days, including today, without pay over a six-month period to help reduce the budget.

The rally is planned for outside City Hall, 280 Grove St., before the 6 p.m. meeting.

Esther should spend more time reading the Corruption Scandal thread and she would realize that the Council's salaries could be zero and they would still profit from the position.  Reducing their pay is a pointless red herring.

And remember, the last rally did nothing, what exactly is the expectation of this rally which is bound to have far less people and far less news coverage?

duke

[MCA]

City Hall rally to protest Jersey City budget set for Wednesday
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
January 22, 2010, 6:00AM

A Jersey City resident is leading a grassroots effort to protest the recently introduced city budget.

In a rush to receive $14 million in state aid before Jon S. Corzine left the governor's office, the City Council introduced a $492 million budget that if left unchanged could hike taxes for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 by as much as $800. City officials have said they intend to make cuts to lessen the expected tax hike.

Esther Winter, a city resident since 1987, said she normally reads the news, not makes it. But when she read about the proposed budget, she was angry and decided to do something. She posted a thread on JCList.com and now has other city residents riled up and ready to protest at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

"I really have a feeling that things are just ripe right now," she said. "People have really had it and people start to find out that property taxes are going up again." Winter said crime remains a problem, the schools are failing to meet state standards and services are being cut, all while taxes are increasing, including an 11 percent hike last year.

"It's enough," she said. "I have yet to see the City Council do what many people have had to go through now, which is take a reduction in salary. A lot of people have taken a reduction in salary to save their jobs."

City workers have taken a hit. They have been forced to take 12 furlough days, including today, without pay over a six-month period to help reduce the budget.

The rally is planned for outside City Hall, 280 Grove St., before the 6 p.m. meeting.

[MCA]

Jersey City budget, with $40 million tax increase, not finalized, say officials
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
January 14, 2010, 5:25PM

Jersey City has introduced a $492 million budget that carries a hefty tax hike. But city officials say the current fiscal year's budget is far from finalized.

As introduced, the budget is $31.6 million more than last year and carries a $190 million tax levy, up $40 million from last year. If the budget remains as is, city Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said taxes could increase $800 for the owner of a home assessed at $100,000.

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy released a statement saying the budget is far from final, but also said several cuts have already been made. "We are looking at a reduction in staff and have already reduced our fire department from 26 companies to 22 companies," Healy said. Healy's spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said no firefighters were axed. But the 13-member arson unit was cut to two. Firefighters from that unit and the closed companies will reduce overtime at other firehouses, she said.

The council hastily approved the budget Wednesday, after receiving it minutes before the meeting. Officials said it was a stipulation of the city getting $14 million in special municipal aid approved by the state Local Finance Board that day.

Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop was the lone member to vote against it. "I can't begin to understand how the mayor and council could approve introduction of a budget they hadn't read," he said. "It wasn't on the agenda. There was no advance notice." Ward D Councilman Bill Gaughan said introducing the budget with the $14 million in aid, also served as security.

Outgoing Gov. Jon S. Corzine pushed through $44 million in last minute aid, including the money for Jersey City and $11 million for Union City, at the objection of Gov.-elect Chris Christie. He takes office Tuesday. "We were kind of protecting ourselves to make sure we maintain it against the new governor," Gaughan said.

Healy said officials are "meeting regularly with department directors, and exploring all areas where cuts can be made and revenue can be generated."