JERSEY CITY — Over 350 people packed the City Council chambers Wednesday night for the public hearing on the city’s $507M municipal budget.
About 30 speakers addressed the council directly to let know not only what cuts should be made to the budget but also voice their disappoval on the council’s reluctance to embrace certain cost-cutting measures proposed by City Councilman Steven Fulop.
Fulop had several ordinances on the council’s agenda that would save the city money — cutting health benefits to board members of the Municipal Utilities Authority and Incinerator Authority as well as for City Council members who already have health benefits through other means. The council voted down his three ordinances, and instead voted for ordinances by Mayor Jerramiah Healy that require board members to pay for some of their benefits. Fulop and Viola Richardson voted against Healy’s ordinances.
Many of the speakers were excited and at times angry as they complained about the 25 percent tax increase in their bills starting this month. They also complained about the city hiring two retired employees back after they retired earlier this month and why they have not passed a budget yet.
For more on this story, see this page Sunday or pick up your Jersey City Reporter. – RK