Local Taxes

[duke_of_earl]

And now we still have a $15 million hole in the budget:

At least 15.  You can bet more will show up.

[Woodsy]

And now we still have a $15 million hole in the budget:

With New $15 Million Hole in 2011 Budget, Jersey City Says it’s Turning to ‘Plan B’
By Matt Hunger • Sep 15th, 2011

Although the $15 million land deal that would have brought Jersey City the tri-state area’s first proton therapy cancer treatment center is now off the table, and the 2011 budget hearing scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed for another two weeks, the Healy administration insists everything is under control, with business administrator Jack Kelly assuring the public that the city’s “Plan B” will fill the $15 million hole without a property tax increase.

The land deal fell apart late yesterday, just hours before the City Council was hoping to pass the city’s 2011 budget, immediately throwing the spending plan — which had included the $15 million in projected revenue from this sale — into question. But the administration quickly followed the news of the deal’s demise with a promise that the city would move a budget forward “with no tax increase.”

“We have been working on a Plan B for some time in the event that this deal was not finalized for this year’s budget, and have identified additional revenue sources and areas where cuts can be made,” Kelly said in a statement released yesterday afternoon. “We have been able to realize additional revenues that were not readily apparent earlier in the year and conservative revenue estimates have proved just that, conservative. Items such as PILOT [Payments in Lieu of Taxes, from abatements] revenues, receipts from delinquent taxes and hotel tax revenues have been realized above initial projections.” more

[MCA™]

Jersey City will require 1,700 retirees to switch health benefits unless they pay extra; City Council passes ordinance 5 to 4
Published: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 5:48 AM
Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 5:48 AM
By Kate Kowsh/The Jersey Journal

Jersey City retirees will be required to switch health benefits unless they pay extra, under an ordinance that was adopted by the City Council yesterday despite vehement opposition from labor unions.

Adopted by a 5-4 vote, which brought Councilman David Donnelly near tears as he voted in favor, the ordinance stands to save the city roughly $3 million annually and will affect 1,700 retirees, according to a city official. Council members Nidia Lopez, Steven Fulop, Viola Richardson and Kalimah Ahmad voted against making the switch.

Retirees will be moved on Oct. 1 from their traditional plan to a direct access plan that, among other things, places a cap on what the plan will pay medical providers for their services. Retirees will be given the option to retain the traditional plan and pay the difference in premium cost, according to a city official.

Councilman Michael Sottolano said he’s confident retirees will not see a decline in care as a result of the changes.

“As a retiree with 36 years of service, I would not vote for something that I thought would create harm for me or my wife,” Sottolano said before voting to adopt the ordinance.

Joseph W. Krajnik, president of the Uniformed Firefighter Association of Jersey City, called for the city to look for other ways to find alternate savings instead of forcing retirees to switch health plans.

“We want the traditional plan in place for our retirees,” he declared. “Why are we panicking the retirees who now are on heart-attack medicine?”

[MCA™]

Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop's three reform ordinances pass on fourth try
Published: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 3:00 AM
By Kate Kowsh/The Jersey Journal

The Jersey City City Council yesterday adopted three ordinances that Councilman Steve Fulop had tried and failed to garner support for in the past, although Mayor Jerramiah Healy believes at least one of the measures may not be legal.

The ordinances will require city seals to be placed on all non-emergency city vehicles, and strip health benefits from Jersey City Incinerator Authority and Municipal Utilities Authority board members.

The measure regarding city vehicles was adopted with a 5-4 vote, with Councilmen Ray Velazquez, Michael Sottolano, Peter Brennan and Bill Gaughan voting against. Healy, in a statement released after the meeting, said the ordinance is “under review.” The administration’s legal team ruled that the ordinance reaches beyond the scope of the City Council’s authority, he said.

“We know that this action is not a legislative prerogative, but rather an executive prerogative,” he said.

Fulop cheered the vote, saying his “persistence” paid off.

Explaining his opposition, Velazquez said he had trouble “entertaining an ordinance that violates the law,” and pointed to Hudson County’s model of phasing out the use of vehicles as a viable alternative.

The ordinance to strip health benefits from MUA board members was adopted 8-0, with Gaughan abstaining, and the JCIA ordinance by a vote of 8 to 1, with Gaughan voting no. Gaughan’s daughter, Eileen, is chairwoman of the MUA board.

The JCIA and MUA measures stand to save taxpayers $70,000, a city official said. MUA and JCIA board members are not paid, but receive benefits they contribute to partially.

Fulop first attempted to introduce all three ordinances in February 2010, but no other member of the City Council would second them. “After four times, we finally got it through,” Fulop said after the meeting. “It shouldn’t have to be such labor to get people to do the right thing.”

[MCA™]

Jersey City Council advances Steven Fulop's measure to cut benefits
Published: Thursday, August 11, 2011, 12:00 AM
Updated: Thursday, August 11, 2011, 12:05 AM
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Three proposals pushed by Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop cleared a procedural hurdle last night. The measures voted down on three previous occasions would place city seals on all non-emergency city vehicles and strip health benefits from some city board members.

The ordinances to strip health benefits from board members at the Municipal Utilities Authority and Jersey City Incinerator Authority board members were introduced unanimously.

The ordinance to place a city seal on all non-emergency city vehicles, was introduced 7-1, with Councilman Ray Velazquez voting “no.” Councilman Bill Gaughan was absent.

The measures all require a second vote for adoption.

[MCA™]

Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop will try for 4th time to mandate all city vehicles to have municipal seal, eliminate health benefits for appointees of two city boards
Published: Friday, August 05, 2011, 9:04 AM
Updated: Friday, August 05, 2011, 9:11 AM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop will try for the fourth time to mandate the addition of the city seal to all non-emergency city vehicles, and to eliminate health benefits for appointees of two city boards.

Claiming the measures would increase transparency and end political patronage, Fulop first attempted to introduce the ordinances in February 2010, but no other member of the City Council would second them. Another attempt the following month also failed, as did a third try in November.

His repeated attempts resulted in an ordinance that was adopted in March 2010 that prohibits council members from reintroducing failed measures for a six-month period. Fulop, a 2013 mayoral hopeful, vowed then to reintroduce the measures every six months until the next municipal election.

The healthcare measure, which Fulop intends to reintroduce at Wednesday's meeting, would strip benefits from board members at the Municipal Utilities Authority and the Jersey City Incinerator Authority. Members currently receive health benefits but no salary for their part-time gigs.

"The elimination of taxpayer-funded patronage healthcare for political friends will save serious money, and placing decals on the cars will ensure that taxpayers can start to question when they see their taxpayer cars used for personal use at the Jersey Shore," Fulop said in a statement.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy responded by saying his administration removed dependents from the board members' health plan and now requires board members to contribute 20 percent toward their health insurance premiums.

"Since last spring, we have also been asking any new appointees to serve without the benefits, to which they have agreed," Healy said.

[duke_of_earl]

Brennan said yesterday that the cost of removing snow from city streets since the recent blizzard will likely put the city in debt "another million dollars."

Strange, I would think the savings from the lack of snow removal would help get the city out of debt....

Sarcasm aside, this should be an expected cost.  Snow is removed every year.

duke

[MCA™]

Jersey City council passes temporary budget for first three months of year as administration says it looks for more costs to cut
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City City Council passed a temporary municipal operating budget of $170 million yesterday to make ends meet through the first three months of the year. The city has switched from a fiscal year to a calendar year and city officials promised a complete budget in the next several months.

"It's going to be a tough year," Council President Peter Brennan said yesterday.

City Business Administrator Jack Kelly said his office has been meeting with the heads of various city departments to gather information and locate potential savings. He said he hopes to provide the City Council with preliminary figures for a complete budget in March.

"We are trying to reduce the size of government, and there are fewer people working for the city today than there were last year," Kelly said, adding that more cuts are expected. "But we will always be considerate of our citizens' health, safety and welfare."

Proposed cuts have already caused friction between city police officers and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. Layoff notices were sent to 82 police officers last week. A number of superior officers were sent demotion notices.

On Dec. 2, about 200 police officers picketed outside a fundraising event for Healy at Puccini's Restaurant, yelling "Shame on you!" as he arrived. The state has cut municipal aid to Jersey City by $28 million. Urban Enterprise Zone funding was also cut by the state.

Brennan said yesterday that the cost of removing snow from city streets since the recent blizzard will likely put the city in debt "another million dollars."

[propscene]

The police also suggested the city consider tasteful private sponsorships for patrol cars and police districts, something other departments in the state have done to offset costs.

The Dunkin Donutmobile and Hootercraft jokes are fairly low-hanging fruit.

[MCA™]

Temporarily, at least.


Cops and Jersey City meet on contract, but city sends layoff plan to Trenton 'with heavy hearts'
Published: Friday, December 03, 2010, 8:15 PM
Updated: Friday, December 03, 2010, 9:06 PM
Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal

Top Jersey City officials met with ranking police union members today, but there wasn't enough progress to stop the city from sending a plan that would layoff 82 officers and seven civilians to the state.

"Fiscal and economic realities have forced us to take this step, and we do so with heavy hearts and as a last resort," said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "However, I am still hopeful that we can reach an agreement with the union to prevent these layoffs from taking effect."

Healy sent the plan to the state Civil Service Commission at 5 p.m. today. The plan also calls for the demotion of two captains, four lieutenants and six sergeants.

Jersey City Police Officer Benevolent Association President Jerry DeCicco said he and members of the police supervisors union met with Business Administrator John "Jack" Kelly and submitted 21 cost-saving proposals.

The city again asked for the same concessions, a "pay lag" that would save the city $3.4 million and a one-time give back of the $1,300 annual uniform allowance.

DeCicco said the union has suggested the city increase the fees it collects from developers who hire off-duty police officers at construction sites. The city collects $5 an hour per officer, which DeCicco said it probably the lowest in the state.

The police also suggested the city consider tasteful private sponsorships for patrol cars and police districts, something other departments in the state have done to offset costs.

"Deep down in Healy's heart, I know he doesn't want to do this, however, today is the day that him and Jack Kelly have welcomed violent crime back to Jersey City and will leave the citizens extremely vulnerable," DeCicco said. DeCicco said Kelly seemed receptive to some of the union's suggestions and that his attorney plans to review the city's proposal.

The layoffs would come on top of the department losing 63 officers to retirement this year. There are 829 officers on the force, with about 90 eligible to retire, DeCicco said.

The union's tone today was more positive and subdued than last night when about 300 police officers from Jersey City and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey protested outside Puccini's, where Healy was holding a fundraiser.

Healy hasn't yet announced whether or not he will seek reelection in 2013, but tickets to his event were $300 for the VIP package and $125 for standard admission.
DeCicco, like Healy, is hopeful a deal can be reached. "We will work with them to avert these layoffs," he said.

[MCA™]

Protests work, apparently.


Jersey City police officers angry at mayor over plan for layoffs march and yell at him outside his fundraiser
Friday, December 03, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy received a loud and rude welcome last night as he stepped out of a car to attend his fundraiser at Puccini's Restaurant on West Side Avenue.

Roughly 200 Jersey City police officers, angry over Healy's talk of layoffs and multimillion-dollar union givebacks, had gathered in front the catering house to give the mayor and his supporters a piece of their mind.

When Healy was dropped off at the steps of Puccini's the crowd booed, yelled "Shame on you!" and pressed in on him.

Before Healy got there, the cops marched up West Side Avenue toting signs that read, "Healy is anti-labor," "Fire the cronies, save the cops," "Healy lies," and "Save the city, stop police layoffs."

Bagpipers from the Port Authority Police Department led the protesters and the PAPD also set up a comfort station serving piping hot coffee. Two huge inflatable rats, symbols of anti-union activity, were set up right outside the catering facility, located at Broadway and West Side Avenue.

The protest snarled traffic at the intersection, where car horns blared in support of the Police Officer Benevolent Association members.

On Wednesday, Healy announced his intention to submit plans in Trenton to lay off 82 police officers and demote 12 superior officers.

Yesterday, he said he was holding off on those plans in light of an encouraging meeting with union officials at City Hall late Wednesday.

--

Jersey City decides not to send police layoff plan to Trenton as union and mayor vow to resume negotiations to cut costs
Friday, December 03, 2010
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy held off yesterday on filing a plan in Trenton to lay off 82 police officers and demote 12 superior officers in hopes the city's rank-and-file police union and his administration can strike a deal on concessions.

On Wednesday night, Healy announced his intention to file the layoff plan with the state yesterday. But after he made that announcement, police union officials showed up at City Hall and the mayor and the union honchos apparently bridged some differences.
 
Healy yesterday attributed the divide that nearly led to the submission of the layoff plan to a failure to communicate.

"The union guys told me that they didn't get all the information, but they did tell me (that) with all the information they have now, they want an opportunity to sit down, eyeball it, and see if we can come to some consensus," Healy said yesterday. "I am absolutely open and hopeful we can do it."

Healy reiterated yesterday that the city wants to institute a "pay lag" with the union that would save the city about $3.4 million and he wants the officers to agree to a one-time give-back of the $1,300 annual uniform allowance for a savings of $1.2 million.

The "pay lag" would essentially mean that officers would be owed a week's pay that they would receive upon retirement, officials said.

The mayor said the administration and police brass found cuts and revenue sources that would save another $2.4 million.

Healy said the concessions by POBA members, combined with efforts by the department to cut costs and find revenues, would avert layoffs completely. He seemed surprised the deal hadn't been accepted by the union.

POBA President Jerry DeCicco said yesterday that the union had not been informed of the mayor's proposal before he announced it to the media Wednesday night. He said the union was still operating on a written proposal made by the city before Thanksgiving that demanded six concessions for a savings of $8 million.

"We had no knowledge they were going to announce anything like that, and there is a little mistrust right now," DeCicco said. "There has to be an iron clad guarantee that not a single police officer will get laid off if we are to consider his new proposal. He owes that to residents, and he owes it to police."

DeCicco said he plans to meet with city officials for talks today but noted that the layoff process will take a month or two and there is plenty of time to negotiate.

Once notified, Trenton has 30 days to approve a layoff plan. The city would then have to provide 45 days notice to the workers being laid off.

[MCA™]

Jersey City mayor says police union is balking at 2 fiscal maneuvers so he's asking state to approve plan to lay off 82 cops and demote 12 senior officers
Thursday, December 02, 2010
By BRETT WILSHE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Saying that negotiations to wring $8 million worth of concessions out of Jersey City's rank-and-file police union collapsed yesterday, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy says that he is submitting plans to Trenton today to lay off 82 cops and demote 12 superior officers.

"I loathe to do this. The police do a terrific job," Healy said last night at City Hall. "But the unions want to open up the contract and go through the whole thing. There's no time for that."

Healy said that proposals put before the leaders of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association include a "pay lag" that would save the city roughly $3.4 million - and cost the officers nothing, according to Healy - and a one-time give-back of the officers' $1,300 annual uniform allowance that would save an additional $1.2 million.

Jerry DeCicco, president of the POBA, blasted the administration's actions and said it was a misnomer to call what occurred between city officials and the union "negotiations."

"It really wasn't a negotiation. It was more of a dictatorship," DeCicco said yesterday. "Either you take $8 million in concessions, or we'll lay off 100 cops. That's not how a democratic system works."

DeCicco, whose union represents roughly 700 rank-and-file officers, said the administration's so-called "pay lag" amounts to a week's less pay for his members over the course of the year.

City officials said yesterday that they want to put police officers on the same pay cycle as other city workers. The adjustment would save the city one police payroll during the fiscal year and the cops wouldn't lose money since they would be paid in the following fiscal year, city officials said.

Part of the layoff plan includes the demotion of two captains, four lieutenants, and six sergeants. Officials with the Jersey City Police Superiors Officers Association declined to comment yesterday.

Even if his union agreed to the proposed concessions, there is no assurance jobs would be saved, DeCicco said. "We're dealing with a dishonest administration, they won't even guarantee in writing that these concessions will save jobs," DeCicco said. "They cannot be trusted."

Healy said last night he still hopes to work out a deal with the union to avoid layoffs and after plans are submitted to the state, the parties still have 45 days to reach an agreement.

"You know, this is real simple. Every employee of Jersey City is taking a hit, but we can't furlough public safety employees due to state law," Healy said.

"Sixty-seven percent of the city's budget goes to public safety employees, including something to the tune of $93 million for their salaries. I think it's perfectly reasonable," he said.

[MCA™]

Jersey City mayor and police chief looking to cut police budget by $8 million, but hope to avoid layoffs
Friday, October 29, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City Police Chief Tom Comey is trying to cut $8 million from his budget without laying off police. But achieving that, which would involve winning concessions from the union to avert layoffs, won't be easy.

"I'm trying to make the appropriate cuts. The last thing I want to do is lay off a police officer," Comey said yesterday. "I believe if I work with the union and make some tough decisions in other areas of the budget, I believe I can get to the $8 million."

Comey met with members of the Police Officers Benevolent Association this week after Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy directed him last week to reduce his $93 million budget by about 8.6 percent.

Union president Jerry DeCicco said he's fearful the cuts could mean the layoffs of 80 young officers, most of whom work the night shift.

DeCicco and other union members said Healy made a statement while appearing on Capital Hot Seat on News 12 last week that the force could get down to 750 people. There are 830 police officers currently working for the department, down from 1,000 when Comey joined the force in 1981.

But city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said Healy was speaking about the possibility of mass retirements due to reforms in Trenton, which include capping payouts for unused sick and compensatory time at $15,000 for retirees. Jersey City has paid out millions in unused time over the past 18 months. In that time, about 75 police officers have retired.

Morrill said Healy is meeting with every department to discuss cuts in preparation for the 2011 calendar year budget.

"Chief Comey has developed a number of proposals, including potential givebacks from the unions, that if approved could cut close to $7 million from the budget," she said. "If these savings could be achieved, we could avoid the painful prospect of layoffs in the Police Department."

Comey is among 90 police officers who are eligible to retire and could leave at any time.

"Through attrition we would begin to have significant issues when we hit the number between 750 and 760; that's when we would then have to prioritize and there would become a situation where we wouldn't answer low-priority calls for an extended period of time," he said, adding he hopes to avoid that situation.

DeCicco said union members may not be willing to give up their hard-fought raises, adding: "It would be anarchy if you lose 80 frontline officers on the streets."

The City Council rejected an initial contract that would have granted 3 to 3.5 percent increases to officers annually. A second contract was approved with 2.75 percent annual increases and the union gave up the traditional health care plan, saving the city millions.

DeCicco said the city is now trying to get a "third bite at the apple" by wiping out raises for 2011 and 2012 or threatening layoffs.

"It's a very difficult thing to ask our members to reopen a contract," he said. "How do you do that after we've already sacrificed with concessions on health care and the total percentage of the contract."

See also: Budget cuts at Jersey City Police Department might mean freeze on hiring cops

[MCA™]

Jersey City Council adopts $97 million transition year budget
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 9:02 PM
Updated: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 9:02 PM
Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal

After a lengthy public hearing and debate over Jersey City library funding, the City Council tonight adopted a six-month transition year budget that would raises taxes about 10 percent for the average home owner. The $97.15 million budget, which covers July 1 to Dec. 31 while the city transitions from a fiscal year to calendar year cycle, passed 7-1.

Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop cast the lone no vote saying the budget increased taxes, didn’t fund essential services and deferred the city’s $80 million deficit. “There’s no reason to support something like this,” he said.

Ward B Councilman David Donnelly and Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson also took issue with the budget not giving the library enough money to prevent three branches from closing, but voted for it saying it had to be to the state tomorrow.

Fulop and Richardson made a motion on Donnelly’s suggestion to amend the budget to include $100,000 more for the library, but City Clerk Robert Byrne said such an amendment would have prevented the adoption. If the budget does not get to the state tomorrow by 10 a.m., the city would not be able to send out tax bills and would have had to bond in the interim.

After lengthy debate Business Administrator John “Jack” Kelly said the library may be able to use surplus and could renegotiate its leases on the West Bergen, Marion and Lafayette branches, which it rents. He said if the library still needs money to keep the branches open, the council could make line-item transfers next month.

Donnelly demanded that the council meet with the library board and administration before Oct. 15 to get information on the budget. Council President Peter Brennan said the council has to make cuts in order to close the budget gap and more than the library is being impacted. “We have to make some tough decisions here, you want us to make tough decisions and we have to stick to those tough decisions,” he said. “No body talks about the 150 police and fire who retired, we can’t hire them back. No body talks about that.”

He said raising taxes is unfair to residents like Yvonne Balcer who spoke during the hearing and said homeowners like herself were hit with a 23 percent tax hike during the 2010 fiscal year and are facing 10 percent during the six-month transition.

Officials have said the average homeowner would pay about $20 more a quarter under this budget.

“I’m really, really annoyed,” Balcer said. “Thirty-three percent is a lot, it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

[fasteddie]

Another $720 of MY FUCKING TAX DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!

Jersey City council adopts temporary budget, levy that raise taxes
Published: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 2:44 PM     Updated: Thursday, July 01, 2010, 6:03 PM

The average Jersey City homeowner can expect to pay $720 more in taxes this year despite the City Council striking a lower tax levy than originally proposed.

That figure is for the 2010 calendar year and includes increases in school and county taxes as well, officials said.

The City Council adopted a $200 million preliminary municipal tax levy during a meeting this morning. The administration sought $220 million, but Councilman Michael Sottolano said it was too high and made a motion to reduce it.

Sottolano, a member of the council’s Budget Committee, said no one likes to raise taxes and furloughs and layoffs are to be expected.

“Hopefully we can come up with a reasonable solution to have the impact on our taxpayers as minimal as possible,” he said.

Business Administrator John Kelly warned that the city is facing a $56 million budget deficit, $30 million of which is he attributed to state aid cuts.

“There’s currently a large mismatch in budgeting and expenses,” he said.

But City Council members said they wanted to send a message to the administration that taxes can’t keep increasing. Kelly said he got the message.

“You are laying out the framework and the policy to shrink the size of government,” he said. “It will be a clear message.”

Sottolano’s proposed levy, which passed 5 to 3, is $15 million over the last fiscal year’s.
Councilwoman Viola Richardson and Nidia Lopez voted against the levy along with Councilman David Donnelly. Councilman Steven Fulop was absent.

Richardson asked how the levy would impact taxpayers and Kelly said it would increase $720 for a home assessed at $100,000.

“I think we’ve been playing around long enough and we need to cut where we need to cut and stop talking about these little people we’re laying off, $2 million that doesn’t count,” Richardson said. “We need to talk about doing some real serious things in our budget and it’s going to be things that are unacceptable to a lot of people.”

The city laid-off 278 seasonal and provisional employees in February, which saved about $2 million. With the exception of police and firefighters city employees took 12 unpaid furlough days between December and June.

Councilman Mariano Vega voted for the levy saying he didn’t want to see city government shut down, a possibility if the measure didn’t pass. But he warned that $200 million is high and the city should brace for cuts.

“The size of government is too big and we’re serious about reducing it,” he said.
Vega warned that police and fire will not be immune as they were from the furloughs last year.

“We’ll have to have a reduction in force,” he said.

Councilman Bill Gaughan, a Budget Committee member, asked the administration to develop a plan by September.

Council President Peter Brennanwho is also on the committee, said the Budget Committee would be meeting within two weeks.

“We have some major, major issues ahead of us,” he said. “The administration knows thi, they knew this six months ago and here we are. We’re going to be known as the tax council. I’m not happy about this.”

The council also adopted a 2011 temporary budget in a 6 to 2 vote, allocating $61.5 million for debt service and $106.6 million for operating expenses.

[nugnfutz]

I attended the Hudson county hearing of my tax appeal last week. It was actually a fairly pleasant experience. They cut my property tax bill by over 1/3rd. There were 4 people ahead of me in line and everyone left fairly happy with their result, even if they hadn't completed their paperwork correctly.

The appeal hearing was a fairly informal process - nothing like a trial. A county rep, a city rep and myself, sat around a table, discussed the appeal details on the form. They made an offer, and we settled it very quickly. For a lot of people ahead of me in line, they had already agreed settlements with people in the same apartment/condo blocks - so had a preprepared offer. My case was a little more complex since they had no direct comparables, but they came up with an offer that, while not perfect, was acceptable. They also recommended that I appeal again in 2011 if property values continue to fall.

Some interesting info from the hearing:
- The Jersey City assessors at City Hall welcome visitors with any property queries and are happy to help anyone fill in the appeal forms correctly. I found this to be true over email - they were very helpful and not at all confrontational.
- the folks at the appeal hearing said the appeal agreement was valid for 3 years or until the City-wide reassessment happens.
- They think the City-wide reassessment may take 3-5 years.

Based on this experience, I'd recommend that every property owner to check zillow, easytaxfix and hudsoncountytax next Feb, and put in an appeal if they think they are over-taxed. And kudos to the folks in the City and County appraisal offices - I think they have done a very professional job when they're representing something very objectionable to most residents.

[MCA™]

Developers to pay Jersey City thousands more on abatement deals
Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010, 6:29 PM
Updated: Thursday, June 10, 2010, 6:41 PM
Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal

Jersey City has reached an agreement with four waterfront developers that will bring nearly $500,000 more annually in abatement payments. The city also negotiated a settlement of nearly $1 million in back payments for the past two years.

The agreement impacts Plaza X Urban Renewal Associates LLC, Cal Harbor So. Pier Urban Renewal Associates, Cal Harbor V Urban Renewal Associates and Cal Harbor VII Urban Renewal Associates.

The abatements are for the Hyatt Regency, Mack-Cali and Schwab buildings and one of the Harborside buildings in Downtown Jersey City.

Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis said the developers have a rare abatement, which is calculated on the total project cost instead of the gross revenue.

For years the city and developers have debated the total project cost and the city hired Sax, Macy, Fromm and Co. accountants to conduct and audit. "The principle disparity was focused on two elements of cost, real estate commissions and construction costs," Matsikoudis wrote in a memo to the City Council.

The developers based the total cost on estimates presented during the abatement and argued that real estate commissioners should not be included because they were "in house" costs.

Matsikoudis and Brian O'Reilly, the city's outgoing business administrator who is serving in a transitional capacity, worked on the settlement for years and said it would have been hard to prove in court that commissions were part of the project cost. "This is something I think very good and not insignificant," Matsikoudis said at Monday's caucus meeting.

The city council voted 8-0 Wednesday to accept the audit and new abatement costs. Councilman David Donnelly, who is on his honeymoon, was absent.

The agreement calls for the developers to pay a combined $485,000 more annually, an increase of 8.5 percent in the gross annual service charge. Plaza X will pay $125,000 and the Cal Harbors combined would pay $360,000 more for the remainder of their abatements.

Matsikoudis said the amendment would bring in more than $5 million more over the life of the abatements, three of which expire in 12 years. The Hyatt abatement expires in seven years. In addition, the developers will pay a combined $970,000 in back payments.

Councilman Michael Sottolano questioned why the city didn't seek more in back payments. "Frankly, it was the best we could do," Matsikoudis said.

[nugnfutz]

I keep linking it. If you want an idea of where your taxes will end up after the reval, check out http://www.easytaxfix.com/. Tbh it will probably hit longer-term residents harder than newer residents.

[MCA™]

Afraid of the reval
Residents concerned, angry about city effort to reassess homes
by Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter Staff Writer
May 16, 2010

It’s two weeks into May, and along with their tax bills for the second quarter, Jersey City homeowners got a brochure explaining that the town will soon reassess their property values for the first time in 22 years – meaning they may have to pay higher taxes starting in 2013.

The revaluation is an appraisal of all real estate in the city to determine its value for taxation. The expectation is that properties will be appraised at or near their current market value.

Since the city has not conducted a revaluation since 1988, and because property values have increased dramatically since then, people with homes that are worth more may have to pay higher taxes. Others may pay less, and others may pay the same. The uncertainty of the outcome is what has property owners worried.

Usually, the stated goal of revaluation is to spread the tax burden more evenly among all property owners. The process may take 18 months. The new assessment value will be applied to tax bills starting on Jan. 1, 2013. The revaluation is already making residents nervous and angry about their future taxes.

‘Disproportionally affected’
Funmilayo Brown and husband Michael live on Fourth Street in downtown Jersey City in a home her husband purchased in 2000. Brown, whose background is in financial analysis, is now a stay-at-home mom taking care of the couple’s 10-month old daughter.

Brown said when the tax bill and the reval brochure arrived at her house, she had already received her mortgage bill, which includes their taxes, which are about $13,000 per year. Brown said she wished the city would not go through with the reval.

“I was upset because our property taxes have already gone up, about $300 more a month, which is ridiculous,” Brown said. “Now, I am worried about how much more we are going to have to pay with the coming reval.”

Brown feels downtown Jersey City residents are already bearing most of the tax burden in the city, saying they are “disproportionally affected.”  “What services are we getting for such high taxes, like $13,000 a year?” Brown said. “Are you coming into my house to take out my garbage?

Not everyone pays
A 25-year downtown resident, who didn’t want his name used, said last week that he took issue with the city doing the reval because he remembered his taxes “more than doubled” after the 1988 revaluation. He also is irritated that condos whose developers got tax abatement agreements from the city will be not be included in the reval, since the properties are exempted from conventional taxation.

Jersey City has an estimated 160 properties under tax abatements, an arrangement in which the developer or property owner makes an annual payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) that is a negotiated percentage of their annual revenue. The properties pay the money directly to the city, and there is no separate levy for schools or county taxes. Residents of those buildings aren’t subject to fluctuating property taxes.

The city, in information about the reval on its website, says that abated properties will be subjected to the same process when their abatements expire – but the expiration sometimes takes up to 40 years.

The resident was unimpressed. “The operative words are, ‘When they go off their abatement,’ ” the unnamed resident said. “These abatements are for 20-30 years.” And he is not the only one who feels this way about abated properties finding immunity from the reval process.

John Seborowski, a homeowner in the Jersey City Heights for about 30 years, said recently that he doesn’t see million dollar developments with abatements such as the 77 Hudson St. residential building taking a hit from the reval, while the regular homeowner will have to suffer. “Where’s the fairness in all this?” Seborowski said.

Making an appeal
Barbara Meise owns two four-story buildings on Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City, across the street from City Hall. Meise, a well-respected artist known for her window restoration work business, Artbuilders, said she was “outraged” by the city’s pursuit of a revaluation. “I pay $10,000 in taxes a year for each building, and who knows if this reval won’t lead to me paying more?” Meise said.

But Meise said she is not going to panic. Instead, she will wait for the assessment and probably file a tax appeal. Homeowners who disagree with their new assessment can appeal it with the Hudson County Board of Taxation, which Meise has done successfully three times in past years.

[nugnfutz]

That Nidia Lopez is turning out to be a pistol, huh?

Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez voted against them, saying she didn't feel it was fair to give raises to employees making between $56,000 and $136,000 while laying off other city workers.

It's easy to be right when it really doesn't matter.

[Binky]

That Nidia Lopez is turning out to be a pistol, huh?

S'pose that has to do with the lenient gun laws in FL?

[bdlaw]

That Nidia Lopez is turning out to be a pistol, huh?

[MCA™]

Jersey City approves contracts with three unions after raises are reduced to 2.75 percent for each of four years
Friday, May 14, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City's police officers, firefighters and fire officers will receive 2.75 percent annual raises over four years under contracts approved by the City Council. The contracts are retroactive to last year and expire in 2012. The City Council voted 7-1 in favor of the contracts.

Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez voted against them, saying she didn't feel it was fair to give raises to employees making between $56,000 and $136,000 while laying off other city workers. Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, whose daughter is ill, was absent.

Wednesday's meeting was a stark contrast to last month's council gathering, when hundreds of union members packed the council chambers to back contracts that called for annual raises ranging from 3 to 3.5 percent. In an 8-1 vote last month, the council voted the contracts down, with Councilman Mariano Vega Jr. casting the lone "yes" vote.

On Wednesday, only a handful of union members attended. There was no applause when the contracts passed.

"I think it's a relief for everybody," said Joseph Krajnik, president of the firefighters union, adding it was difficult for union members to give up the traditional health care plan, a change that will save the city $5.3 million annually, city officials said.

On the road participating in the Police Unity Bike Tour to Washington, D.C., a fund-raiser to raise money for the families of fallen officers, Police Officers Benevolent Association President Jerry DeCicco said council members should have signed off on the agreement that was put before them last month.

"Are we happy that the City Council doesn't honor collective bargaining agreements? No. Are we happy that this administration doesn't support the police officers? No. Are we happy that we had to relinquish our traditional health care plan? No," DeCicco said.

By approving the contracts before May 21, union members will not have to contribute 1.5 percent of their salaries toward healthcare benefits, a measure signed by Gov. Chris Christie that goes into effect on that date.

The police supervisors union contract is in arbitration.

---

Jersey City approves contracts with unions for boiler operators and public works employees that change their health plans
Friday, May 14, 2010

The Jersey City City Council approved contracts with two of the city's civilian unions Wednesday.

The contracts are with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68-68A, which represents five boiler operators, and Jersey City Public Employees Local 245, which represents the city's public works employees.

Both unions are giving up the traditional health care plan and paying mail order prescription co-pays. The boiler operators will get a $1,000 payment for the change in health benefits.

The salary for chief stationary engineers will be $51,080 for fiscal year 2010, $52,380 for fiscal year 2011, and $53,680 for fiscal year 2012.

Stationary firemen and engineers will be paid $48,355 for fiscal year 2010, $49,655 for fiscal year 2011, and $50,955 for fiscal year 2012.

The shift differential rate for members working 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. will increase from 40 cents to 60 cents an hour.

Local 245 members will receive one-time payments of $2,000 for the health benefits change.

This contract calls for $1,000 retroactive salary increases in fiscal year 2009 and 2010. The union members are forgoing raises in the upcoming fiscal year.

[nugnfutz]

What I'd like the City to address is it's property tax system:

1. The City bases assessments and appeals primarily on property sq footage and comparative sales based on sq footage.
2. The City and County does not insist on property sales, nor new properties to declare sq footage on deeds, when it would be easy to do so.
3. The City/County NEVER tells people what the City thinks their property is worth. The assessed value on the City bill atm is 27% of property value. That's a shell game and not transparent government. They should make it very clear on the bill. Most people don't challenge City assessments, because they dont have a clue what the assessment means.

Sellers are allowed to hide sq footage, and those sales cannot be used as a basis for an appeal. That's plainly wrong. From what i have seen, when sq footage isn't recorded on the property card held with the County and City, the City tends to undervalue the property, and overvalue properties with sq footage listed. I'd like to see the playing field levelled asap. Think I posted this before too.

Also go to www.hudsoncountytax.com and search for your favorite pols. To me it says something about who lists their sq footage and who doesn't.

[gordonh]

It was disappointing to see the turnout last night.