Only one person spoke at the public hearing on Hoboken’s proposed 2016 $107 million budget this past Wednesday, April 20. The budget itself will likely be voted on at the May 4 council meeting.
“I know there’s talk of a tax increase and that’s horrible, since some people are really pushed to their gills [to stay] here in town…but I [suggest thinking] in terms of priorities,” said resident Cheryl Fallick.
The municipal budget was introduced last March, including a 3.5 percent spending increase from last year’s $103 million. Residents pay property taxes on an amount that is decided by the municipal budget, the school budget (also voted on each spring) and the county budget (recently introduced with an increase for Hoboken residents).
The average annual property tax bill for the owner of a $519,000 home in Hoboken looks to increase by $67 for the year, totaling $2,528 .
One of the highest cost drivers in the budget is the $2.7 million in health benefits for city employees, even after the city saved $2.5 million by switching to a self-insured system.
The city also plans to make down payments on the Washington Street redesign project, the 9/11 memorial, a Snow Dragon snow melter, two sidewalk sweepers, two new pumpers for the Fire Department, renovations to police and fire headquarters, renovations to Church Square Park, and repairs to the walkway at Stevens Park.
“In the year ahead, my focus will remain on improving our infrastructure including Washington Street and other roads, water mains, new parks, and other flood resiliency measures,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in a statement.
Dealing with a growing city
As part of the city’s new expenses, Zimmer’s administration has budgeted for a new zoning job.
Hoboken has a population of over 53,000 according to the latest Census, and is being redeveloped at a high rate.
Hoboken Zoning Officer Ann Holtzman reviews roughly 1,000 applications a year submitted to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, as well as dispensing outdoor café and flood plain permits and performing on-site inspections.
The city plans to create a new position, referred to as a zoning code trainee, with a maximum salary of $39,000.
Per the proposed budget, the city plans to add two planners, one zoning code officer, and a full-time IT person.
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The cost of the trainee would be counterbalanced by the recent retirement of a veteran administrative secretary in the zoning office, who made $75,500 – a spot the city doesn’t plan to refill.
The city also plans to hire two principal planners: one to work on the city’s flood resiliency efforts and another to focus on the city’s redevelopment areas.
“The salary range for principal planners is $45,000 to $90,000, depending on experience,” said Melli.
The new planner will work on the city’s three approved redevelopment areas (Hoboken Rail Yards, Western Edge and Neumann Leathers) and to negotiate redevelopment agreements for the southwest, post office and north end rehabilitation areas.
As of last year the planning office also handles applications to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for federal money since the city exceeds a population of 50,000.
Full-time IT person
The city plans to pay $50,000 for a new full-time IT person.
The last time the city had a full time IT person was in 2011 when Hoboken city employee Patrick Ricciardi was arrested for slipping confidential City Hall communications to unauthorized parties, including emails from the mayor.
In 2013, Ricciardi, who was the former information technology manager, was convicted of computer intrusion, wiretapping, and distributing information obtained through wiretapping for reading and forwarding the emails. He was sentenced to five years probation in federal court.
When asked how the city would take any measures to avoid a similar incident, Melli said, “we will be deliberate in the screening process to make sure we hire someone who is honest and ethical.”
Currently those responsibilities, which include but are not limited to managing the city website, dealing with network issues, and configuring computers, are split between Melli and outsourced to a company called Premier.
Fallick raised that issue in her comments about the budget.
“I think that the zoning role is much more important than having someone to work on the website,” she said. “I understand we’re all technology crazy and want all the bells and whistles on our website…. but I also know we can’t have everything.”
Steven Rodas can be reached at srodas@hudsonreporter.com.