Hoboken 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, a mayoral candidate, is calling on Mayor Ravi Bhalla to release this year’s budget, to which the administration responded that it will happen this month.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The budget is how we plan for Hoboken’s future and protect taxpayers today. It’s how we evaluate priorities, understand tradeoffs, and deliver the services our residents depend on. The longer the delay, the less time we have to do this responsibly,” she said in a statement.
Fisher is co-sponsoring a resolution, along with 1st Ward Council Paul Presinzano, on this evening’s council agenda urging the administration to follow the state guidelines for a municipal budgeting process.
Under the 2025 state timeline, mayors of Faulkner Act municipalities like Hoboken were required to deliver their proposed budgets to the city council by February 28th.
Further, the council was expected to introduce the budget by March 31st, setting up a public review process and final vote by April 30th.
Since, the budget still hasn’t been delivered or placed on an agenda, it is now impossible to meet the April 30 adoption deadline, Fisher explained.
“Instead of introducing the budget on time, Mayor Bhalla has repeatedly asked the City Council to approve significant, long-term cost proposals that could raise taxes for the next eight years,” she added.
“Before we consider anything of that magnitude, we need to see the budget, evaluate its assumptions, and understand how it affects our community.”
Fisher also declared that she considers the city’s AA+ bond rating to be on “shaky ground” due to the amount of debt they have, also questioning if Bhalla, who is running for state Assembly in the 32nd Legislative District, will release the budget before the June 10th primary.
City spokeswoman Marilyn Baer noted that the same guidelines Fisher is now suggesting were ignored by the governing body (they voted down a proposal in July before approving one in August), “a full four months past the deadline she now seeks to adhere to.”
“Additionally, bonding has long been used as an important financial tool that allows the City to invest in essential infrastructure and undertake open space projects, and it should be noted that while Councilmember Fisher states that these bonds are a financial liability, she also voted in favor of almost every one,” Baer told HCV.
“The Administration has been clear with both the Council and Finance Subcommittee that the introduction of the budget would take place in April, and it looks forward to introducing a balanced budget that reflects the vision and values of the Administration in the coming weeks.”
The city council convenes at City Hall, 94 Washington St., at 7 p.m., with the public session also streaming live on their YouTube page.
It is not like Bhalla has declared personal bankruptcy and had his car repossessed.
Does Emily Jabbour support Ravi hiding the budget again and another one of his spendthrift major tax increases?
Ravi is so dirty. The Ravi con never ends.
The public really needs to make timeliness and transaparency a big issue in this year’s mayoral campaign. It appears even Ravi’s must loyal supporters are growing impatient with his “behind clsoed doors” approach to running the city. The public needs to be clear that it will vote for the candidate who commits to a full disclosure of timelines, budgets, headcount, projects and litigation within 90 days of taking office. If a candidate is not willing to share this punch list with the public – -write them off. All but one of the declared candidates is a current council member – -and therefore should know about any smoking guns.