Hoboken elected officials voiced their disdain for the potential 11.5 percent tax hike the Mile Square City faces this year, and they weren’t shy in expressing themselves at a meeting of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders hosted in Hoboken City Hall last night.Â
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Mayor Dawn Zimmer and Council President Ravi Bhalla spoke with the board early on, imploring them to make 2015 the year the tax situation in Hoboken finally starts to get under control.
After various department heads went over their respective budget figures with the board, Hoboken officials voiced their frustration with the board – beginning with a fiery speech from Hoboken Council Vice President David Mello.
Freeholders Anthony Romano (D-5) and Bill O’Dea (D-2) noted that they have consistently fought against tax hikes, with Romano also noting county services have snow plowed some city streets diligently for many years now in the Mile Square City.
Next was Hoboken Democratic Committeeman Phil Cohen, who called for the county to sign off on a performance audit – and also went hard at Romano, a former political opponent for Cohen.
Hoboken Housing Authority Chairwoman Dana Wefer added that the county needs to take a more serious look at labor costs.
Speaking with Hudson County View after the meeting, Romano stated that the New Jersey formula used to calculate budgets is outdated and said the board is seriously going to look at shared services agreements to trim budget costs.
Phil wants an aduti of the County put refused to sigh a petition for over two million in capital mispending of the City of Hoboken.
Zimmer refused to allow the County to clean up our streets this winter when the City left accumulated snow on streets and sidewalks. Total hypocrisy and shameless drama. Mello is incapable of little more than “going off”.