The Hudson County Board of Commissioners have given the initial okay for a $1.3 million amendment to the 2026 county budget, which totals over $769 million, for legal services, rental assistance, and food security programs last night.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
The board unanimously approved (9-0) a resolution introducing the budget at yesterday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
“Throughout this year’s budget process, I have prioritized funding for our most vulnerable residents through vital investments in county social programs,” County Executive Craig Guy said in a statement.
“This budget amendment strengthens these programs by providing additional funding for legal services, rental assistance, and food security initiatives in a fiscally responsible manner.”
Prior to approval, Hudson County Administrator Abe Antun added a resolution to the board’s agenda introducing the budget amendment, noting that if approved, there would be a public hearing set for June 23rd at 6 p.m.
Under the amendment, the Hudson County Law Department will receive $150,000 for constituent legal services; the Office of Food and Health Equity under the Department of Health and Human Services will receive $160,000 for food pantry providers helping to fight hunger in Hudson County; and the Office of Family Services and Reintegration will receive $1 million for rental assistance programs.
The measure was announced by Guy earlier this week, following a repeated ask by immigrant advocates for $2 million for legal and rental assistance to help individuals impacted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Hudson County, though Guy didn’t specifically mention that.
The advocates renewed their calls headed into the first two county budget hearings, which were largely dominated by commissioners pressing department directors on where they can makes cuts or transfer funds for this initiative.
Then at the final budget hearing when the amendment was read by Hudson County Counsel Alberico De Pierro, advocates largely praised the county for finding the funds, although some pushed for more allocations to legal services to bring the total up to $2 million.
Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) said he and Commissioner Fanny Cedeño (D-6), along with Guy, are working with the Immigrant Community Safety Committee to identify another $150,000 for non-profits who are acting as “boots on the ground” helping individuals impacted by ICE.
“The budget reflects our community’s values and these investments show our county’s commitment to fund services for those most in need,” Cedeño said in a statement.
“This amendment will provide critical funding for important resources that will keep residents from going hungry and keep our community members in their homes.”
O’Dea also praised the final outcome, saying he was happy to support it.
“This amendment reflects what county government is supposed to do, meet our residents where they are,” O’Dea said in a statement.
“Investing in legal services, rental assistance, and food security means fewer vulnerable families in crisis and more residents with a real foundation to stand on. I’m proud to support the amendment.”
At the last recent budget hearing on June 9th, O’Dea noted that the county budget could be adopted after the public hearing on the amendment on June 23rd.
“There is a decent likelihood that, at that meeting, we will be voting to amend and adopt the budget,” O’Dea said, which Antun confirmed.
However for the time being, there is an issue related to state funding that has not been finalized.