I still can't believe they raise property taxes by 18% and barely got a peep out of the property owners in this town. We are f---ing idiots. I have complained to a couple of pols privately for what it's worth.

Can't wait to see what Corzine comes up with. Hint...don't hold your breath.

Quote:

Nothing "unique" about that, Councilman Vega.

Council introduces $422M budget

Ricardo Kaulessar - Hudson Reporter - 09/15/2006

The City Council at its Wednesday meeting introduced the 2007 fiscal year budget. The budget so far is $422.6M, down about $3 million from last year.

It will have to go to a public hearing and a final vote at a meeting in the future.

City Councilman Mariano Vega said after the meeting that this year's budget is "unique."

"This year's budget we are able to include the hotel tax and the realty transfer tax that will bring $5 million in anticipated revenues," said Vega.

A new state law allows Jersey City to directly collect the revenues from the 6 percent hotel tax. The realty transfer tax is a fee on real estate transactions.

Vega said he has not had an opportunity to study the budget in length and will do in upcoming weeks.

The city is facing a $9 million shortfall and will have to raise $148 million in taxes.

The budget also shows anticipated increases in Police Department salaries of over $4 million and Fire Department salaries of over $3 million.