The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
Letter to Mayor Zimmer for 2011 Goals
December 15, 2010
The Honorable Dawn Zimmer
Hoboken City Hall
94 Washington Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Dear Mayor Zimmer:
Hoboken Revolt congratulates you on completing your first year in office! As you know, Hoboken Revolt is a community-based watchdog organization whose mission is to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability in Hoboken government. The Revolt Steering Committee appreciates your stated commitment to finding reductions in the municipal budget.
The approach of a new year provides an opportunity for reflection; a chance to look back at the events of 2010 while also looking forward to both planning for and setting goals for 2011. In the spirit of transparency we ask you to share with our members your thoughts on the following topics:
- Please provide us with an update on the revaluation process. Is there a timeline?
- Are there specific areas of the 2011 Municipal budget targeted for reductions? What is the status of the fire audit?
- What, if anything, is being done to lower the allocation of County taxes for Hoboken residents?
- Please provide details in regards to the PILOT and affordable housing review you mentioned you were conducting in June.
In addition to the above, we would appreciate you sharing three of your objectives for 2011. A response is kindly requested by Friday, January 7th.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Sincerely,
Kristina Hahn, on behalf of
The Hoboken Revolt Steering Committee
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by FAP on -
Other than elect a better freeholder has any municipality been able to do anything about County taxes? I don't have the answer ti this but am curious.
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Permalink Reply by darren and jane on
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i know mine go up every quarter
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Permalink Reply by FAP on
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Darren and Jane, I agree the country is the problem. Last year the Schools Board held their budget steady, their would have been a cut except for the loss of state funds, and the City cut 5%, the most I think it can do in a transitional budget year.
The county decided to raise Hoboken's taxes and what do we get for it, a golf course?
http://www.nj.com/hudson/voices/index.ssf/2010/12/post_24.html
We NEED to elect a decent freeholder when the opportunity arises. Someone sharp, good with numbers and willing to throw a few elbows up on that dais.
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Permalink Reply by John Koppisch on
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Fap -- you're right about the county but just a small correction with the school board. The board was not planning a tax cut before the state aid was cut. The preliminary budget called for a flat tax levy. After the state aid was cut, the budget was cut and some types of revenue were increased, and the tax levy remained flat. Also, municipal taxes could have been cut by more than 5%, I believe, if the city had asked Trenton for permission, but I don't think the city did that.
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Permalink Reply by FAP on
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John you could be right on the school budget, it's not my area of focus so I'll rely on others for the details. This story from March mentions the goal of a reduced tax levy and that's probably where I got my info from.
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2010/03/breaking_down_the_pr...
On the municipal I think the point is debatable. Since Hoboken just came out of State Monitorship last year my personal opinion is the State was very very unlikely to give us an exemption on any normal fiscal restraint in that year. If our finances are still strong this year, and the shenanigans of last night don't screw up the budget, I would hope we could see additional cuts this year.
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Permalink Reply by John Koppisch on
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Yes, we're all hoping for additional cuts this year.
FAP said:
John you could be right on the school budget, it's not my area of focus so I'll rely on others for the details. This story from March mentions the goal of a reduced tax levy and that's probably where I got my info from.
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2010/03/breaking_down_the_pr...
On the municipal I think the point is debatable. Since Hoboken just came out of State Monitorship last year my personal opinion is the State was very very unlikely to give us an exemption on any normal fiscal restraint in that year. If our finances are still strong this year, and the shenanigans of last night don't screw up the budget, I would hope we could see additional cuts this year.
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