33rd Legislative District Assembly candidates Tony Hector and Frank Alonso are doubling down on fighting the Hudson County government over a proposed 30 percent tax hike in Secaucus, despite a budget vote coming after the primary election.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
” … Craig Guy has padded the county budget with mass political patronage and now he wants Secaucus taxpayers to pay the bill. It is simple, Secaucus taxes are going up and it’s Craig Guy’s fault. Rather than accept responsibly, Guy wants to blame the state,” Hector and Alonso said in a joint statement.
“Well, if the state is to blame then Secaucus taxpayers need to ask, where is your state Senator Brain Stack? Why has Stack not stepped up and spoken out and taken action to demand Guy rework the budget and spare Secaucus taxpayers? Why has Stack not acted on a state level to ensure fair property tax allocation for all taxpayers? Could it be Stack is in bed with Guy and both only care about what is best for them. And their chosen few?”
Hector added that he will be busing Secaucus residents to the Hudson County Board of Commissioner meeting on Wednesday, June 11th, whether he wins or loses the election. to speak out against the final county budget vote.
When the duo first rose the issue on Tuesday, county spokesman Mark Cygan said that Hector and Alonso did not appear up to speed on how county budgeting works.
“The State of New Jersey determines how property taxes are allocated for all New Jersey municipalities,” he began.
“Even with no increase in county taxes, Secaucus taxes would have risen due to property sales in the Town of Secaucus. As candidates running for Assembly, they should be aware of this.”
Cygan indicated that he had said all that he had to say on this topic, declining to comment further today.
Hector and Alonso are running on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s “Democrats for Change” slate, facing an uphill battle against Assemblyman Gabriel Rodriguez and Larry Wainstein, who are backed by Stack and the Hudson County Democratic Organization.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy delivered his annual address on a $713,587,235.10 budget with a 5.59 percent tax hike during the board of commissioners caucus on May 6th, as HCV first reported. Guy is also the HCDO chair.