JERSEY CITY – City Council members Nidia Lopez (Ward C) and Steven Fulop (Ward E) announced a plan on Tuesday to introduce resolutions to consolidate two city departments with their counterparts at the county level.
Under their proposals, the Jersey City Department of Cultural Affairs would be consolidated into the Hudson County Cultural Affairs Department, and the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation would be folded into the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation.
According to a joint release issued today from Lopez and Fulop, the resolutions are to notify Mayor Jerramiah Healy of the council’s intent to consolidate these two city functions in advance of planning for the next budget year so the Healy administration can take appropriate steps.
Neither Fulop nor Lopez could be reached Tuesday afternoon, so it’s unclear how much money might be saved by their proposal.
“The redundancy of services between the county and city basically mean that Jersey City residents are taxed twice for the delivery of those services,” said Councilman Fulop. “It is time Jersey City stops putting politics first and stops budgeting with one time revenue sources. The city needs to streamline overlapping services where possible.”
The council members have already received some preliminary support from two members of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Board Chairman William O’Dea and Freeholder Anthony Romano, both of whom represent parts of Jersey City, have expressed support for consolidating redundant services before cutting essential services, such as police and health services.
“These are tough economic times and I think this is worth exploring,” said O’Dea. “It could help the residents in Jersey City and hopefully the efficiency would be financially beneficial to the county as a whole.”
Fulop and Lopez plan to introduce their resolution at the Wednesday, May 25 City Council meeting.