HOBOKEN – The City Council will convene on March 23 at 6 p.m. to address police pay and another issue about an uptown property which will most likely cause the council to enter closed session. At the March 16 council meeting, the council agreed to adjourn at midnight, leaving some issues unaddressed.
However, the evening won’t end after the special meeting for the council, as the final municipal budget hearing will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
After the council voted to accept the mayor’s budget in early March, they are now working with directors to amend the budget before it is formally voted on, most likely some time in April. The council also must hold a public hearing before the council takes the budget to a vote. The budget is currently at approximately $101 million, but Councilman Michael Russo, the head of the Finance Committee, has asked directors to present plans with a 15 percent budget reduction.
In a release, Russo said the amendments will be presented to the council and the public at the April 6 City Council meeting.
“The budget workshop will be streamed on the city’s website, and while it may not be as exciting as the March Madness games, it’s definitely more important,” Russo said in a press release. “I encourage the public to come out and see what’s being done with their tax dollars.” – Ray Smith