With the Jersey City budget expected to be introduced at Monday’s City Council caucus, a battle has erupted over 31 layoffs from the administration, which has rubbed the majority of the governing body the wrong way do to the way it was represented to the city’s unions.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“At Wednesday’s meeting with city union leadership, the administration told union members that Council’s opposition to a 15% third quarter tax increase — opposed by Council members Ridley, Gilmore, Lavarro, Griffin, and Zuppa — would result in layoffs. That’s not accurate, and union members deserve better than being misled about what’s actually on the table,” the five council members said in a joint statement.
“They were also encouraged to show up at the next council meeting and demand a vote on the increase, even though no such item is on the agenda. Written talking points circulated to union heads placed the blame on council members for asking basic budget questions. This administration should be embarrassed by that.”
While last week started on a high note for the city of Jersey City, securing $120 million in state aid – a $15 million grant and a $105 million loan – it didn’t end on one.
Just two days later, the governing body unanimously voted down (0-9) a 15 percent rate hike on the third quarter tax bills proposed by Mayor James Solomon, which came after he pulled a 20 percent proposal the week prior, both as HCV first reported.
Now, the governing body is clearly drawing a line in the sand when it comes to the budget introduction, which they felt was necessary before approving any sort of tax increase for residents.
“Now the administration appears to be moving toward layoffs before the public or the council has seen the proposed budget, the terms of the State loan, the results of a PILOT audit, or the list of new hires since January 15, 2026 that Council requested,” Ridley, Lavarro, Griffin, Zuppa, and Gilmore continued.
“Pinning a potential layoff on the council doesn’t hold up, either — the council has no authority over hiring or firing within the administration. So here’s where we stand: Do better. This council doesn’t scare easily. We’re willing to work with an administration that keeps its campaign promises and shows up for residents.”
They concluded that they are simply seeking complete information before voting on a tax increase, whether that is 15 percent or not.
Ridley, the council president, ran on Solomon’s ticket from day one, as did Griffin and Lavarro. Gilmore and Solomon traded endorsement early in last year’s campaign, while Zuppa got endorsed by the then-Ward E Councilman in the December runoff.
City spokesman Nathaniel Styer confirmed that the city was laying off 31 provisional employees, something he said would not have happened if the 20 percent rate hike had been passed, reiterating that Solomon had said a 15 percent tax rate would cause layoffs.
“Layoffs were always our very last option to solve this crisis. Balancing the budget requires a combination of raising revenue and cutting expenses, and after cutting over $55 million in expenses, we are out of areas to trim without impacting staff. Our original proposal of a 20% city tax rate increase was intentionally designed to protect jobs and core city services,” he explained on Friday.
“The City Council made it clear that a tax increase of that amount was unacceptable and asked us to find more savings and efficiencies. Laying off these 31 provisional employees is a difficult, significant step towards achieving those additional reductions in spending. This should underline the fact that there is no way to further lower the proposed tax rate without more layoffs and deeper cuts to city operations.”
An email forwarded to HCV shows that Jersey City Inter-Governmental Affairs Senior Advisor Stuart Thomas, who managed Solomon’s mayoral campaign, notified the City Council of the layoffs today 12:35 p.m.
“This was not a decision made lightly. The affected employees have served the City, and the administration is committed to proceeding respectfully and in full compliance with all applicable rules and procedures. Affected employees are being notified directly today,” he wrote.
