The Jersey City Council will vote on a preliminary $724,219,250.40 budget with a 1.9 percent tax increase on Wednesday, which Mayor Steven Fulop is touting as a thorough and responsible spending plan.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“While fixed costs are nearly double the rate of inflation – such as 6% increases for health insurance and pension contributions – this budget is responsible and still expands critical city services that residents rely on,” Fulop said in a statement.
Regarding the first iteration of the 2024-2025 Jersey City budget, the mayor’s office highlighted recruiting 30 additional call takers for 911 dispatch, local diversity recruitment efforts, a new de-escalation training center, city-run animal control and care services, and Open Space and Arts & Culture Trust Funds all being included.
The Department of Public Safety would still receive the most municipal funding, $214,421,922 or just under 30 percent of the budget, with adjustments made to pay for the new 911 dispatchers ($6,731,557 in salaries and wages versus $5,877,573 last year).
Calls to reform the system have been ongoing for years, with the city council narrowly voting to have a private company perform a 911 dispatch study 13 months ago.
Additionally, the municipal portion of Jersey City residents’ taxes decreased from 48 percent to 37 percent of the overall property tax bill, with the remainder coming from the local board of education and Hudson County government.
Late last month, the Jersey City BOE adopted a $1,035,721,424 budget with a flat tax rate (0 percent), while the Hudson County Board of Commissioners have not introduced their budget yet.
The Jersey City Council’s caucus meeting will convene today at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St., with their regular public session scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. Both will stream live on Microsoft Teams.
