Dear Editor:
This week Governor Christie chose our city to begin his 44 day tour to sell his 2.5 per cent property tax cap to New Jersey voters. While the concept of a 2.5 per cent property tax cap is appealing, I believe the Governor is using it as a smokescreen to hide the fact that his proposed budget will adversely affect urban cities such as Hoboken.
Under the Governor’s proposed budget he will eliminate an unprecedented $1 billion in aid to mass transit and public education. Some of the drastic results of these massive cuts include the following:
• NJ Transit fare increases up to 45 percent will further strain the budgets of commuters and the state’s mass transit system.
• Libraries will be forced to close some days or have shorter hours with limited internet access because the state library budget has been eliminated.
• Children will pay more or be forced to go without breakfast and lunch because of loss in funding, and also may lose the school programs that keep kids them safe.
• Seniors will no longer receive Homestead Rebate Checks, a crucial property tax relief program.
• Tuition Aid Grants to college students are reduced at the same time the state cut more operating funds than ever to the state’s public colleges. Many young people may be forced to put off college because they can no longer afford to attend.
• Women who can’t afford health insurance will not get prenatal and ob-gyn care.
• Working families receiving the state Earned Income Tax Credit will be hit with a tax hike when the credit amount is cut from 25 percent to 20 percent.
• On March 16, 2010 the NY Times reported that while charity care has been increased in this budget, hospitals taxes will rise to $45 million more this year. For a city that owns a hospital that has a history of financial problems, this is very concerning.
In his budget address the Governor stressed repeatedly that this budget would be about shared sacrifice and fairness, but for cities such as Hoboken this is clearly not the case. Instead, Governor Christie is balancing his budget on the backs of residents who live in urban areas and creating economic class warfare within New Jersey.
The Mayor and her allies on the City Council have stated that their support of Christopher Christie’s budget is an effort to show that they can work with everybody. While I agree that we must work with the Governor I do not believe it should be done at the expense of the people of Hoboken that we represent.
Councilwoman Beth Mason
Beth@masoncitycouncil.org