North Bergen property tax reval contractor completes preliminary values

December 28, 2021

01nbreval06 — While initial inspections are complete, those who missed ASI representatives can still schedule an interior inspection.

The property tax revaluation in North Bergen is nearing its final stages, according to North Bergen Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield.

Due to a directive from the state of New Jersey and the Hudson County Board of Taxation, the township began a mandatory property tax revaluation process to accurately assess the value of all properties in late 2020.

In November of 2020, the Board of Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance that began a tax revaluation of all properties. The following month, the board voted to award the contract for the reval to Appraisal Systems, Inc. (ASI) for $995,000, which had previously conducted revals in Jersey City in 2018, and Bayonne in 2020.

After some months of waiting for further state approvals, the revaluation firm began inspecting properties in April of 2021.

Inspections nearly over

Pittfield told the Hudson Reporter that ASI has completed the first few phases of the process, which includes conducting interior inspections for property owners.

“Appraisal Systems Inc. has indicated that first visit residential inspections are complete,” Pittfield said. “They are continuing to conduct interior inspections for property owners who call to schedule inspections.”

Since ASI has finished its initial inspections, with the additional scheduled inspections underway, it is now in the review stage of the process.

“Preliminary values are complete and ASI is in their review process,” Pittlfield said.

So what does that mean for homeowners waiting to know the fate of their revaluation? According to Pittfield, letters with the new value of their property will be in the mail soon.

“Value letters will be mailed to property owners in mid-January, with informal meetings to follow for any property owner who wishes to discuss their proposed assessment,” he said.

Additional assistance available

The township has prepared an FAQ in English and Spanish with answers to the most common questions about the revaluation, broken down by topic. Additionally, it has also released a video with more information regarding the visitation part of the process for residents. For more information on both, go to northbergen.org.

The township is now primarily in between steps two and three of the seven-step revaluation, with step two being analyzing the data and step three being reviewing it. The next step, step four, is to inform the residents of the property assessments via mail and online.

Following that, residents would have the opportunity to meet with ASI in informal hearings as part of step five. Step six involves submitting the final values to the municipality and county, and step seven allows for appeals of assessments. There is no timeline yet for when the next steps are slated to occur.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

NY Waterway on board with NYC’s new freight plan

Hudson Reporter

December 21, 2021

12weewaterway30-2 — NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announces funding that will support the initiative on Dec. 15.

NY Waterway is on board and ready to help with New York City’s plan to reduce roadway congestion by addressing reliance on trucks to deliver freight.

The commitment by the Hudson River-based ferry operator follows a recent announcement by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio of approximately $38 million in new funding for freight programs.

“It’s our mission at New York Waterway to reduce congestion on the region’s roadways,” NY Waterway Chairman, President and CEO Armand Pohan said in a statement. “As the largest ferry fleet in New York Harbor, we stand ready to work with the City and with private partners to carry more freight on our passenger lines.”

Officials made the funding announcement on Dec. 15 on Pier 79 against the backdrop of a NY Waterway passenger ferry that will moonlight for freight use. NY Waterway ferries already carries some freight, but would see an increase under New York City’s new plan.

“For centuries, maritime freight was the core of New York City’s economy,” said de Blasio.” Now, it’s time to re-engage the blue highway that can make deliveries safer, faster, and more sustainable.”

That funding includes $18 million for the new Blue Highways pilot program, a joint effort between the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to spur private investments in marine vessels to transport goods into and around the city. The program also encourages the use of sustainable last mile delivery solutions like electric trucks and commercial cargo bicycles.

“Our ferries can cross the Hudson in seven minutes, and are a fast way to bring small containerized shipments right to the heart of business districts in Midtown and Downtown,” Pohan said. “We look forward to becoming a green, sustainable alternative not only to private passenger cars, but now to freight trucks as well.”

Moving freight by ferry

Nearly 90 percent of New York City’s goods are moved by truck, the result of the shift from rail and water networks to highways in the second half of the 20th century. The DOT estimates that truck traffic across the Hudson River has increased by over 50 percent between January 2020 and September 2021.

Without action, the increase in freight demands will result in tens of thousands more trucks crossing into the city every day, while the network of streets and bridges remains fixed.

The growing dependency on trucks to meet an increasing demand for goods exacerbates traffic congestion, pollutes air, stresses aging infrastructure, and harms quality of life in residential neighborhoods, not only in New York City but also Hudson County which many trucks drive through on their final stretch to New York City.

Small freight trucks take the ferry to NYC.

The city’s new plan to address the reliance on trucks to move freight, dubbed Delivering Green, seeks to reverse those trends and move goods by water, rail and by other more sustainable modes of transportation.

Delivering Green lays out five goals to restructure freight distribution by: encouraging greener and more efficient truck deliveries; increasing the share of goods moved by water, rail, and cargo bicycles; and supporting new technologies to make freight movement more efficient and compliant.

“As our demand for freight continues to increase, we cannot continue the historic mistake of relying on more oversized and polluting diesel trucks to handle the load,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman. “They destroy our infrastructure, damage the public health and quality of life in our neighborhoods, clog our already overcrowded streets and hasten climate change. We must change course. We have developed a thoughtful blueprint for the next five years to do just that. We are laying out a vision to reclaim New York City’s original highways — our harbor and rivers — to bring goods into the city and shifting to cargo bikes and other small, green vehicles to complete the journey to our doorsteps.”

Local resistance?

The announcement by NY Waterway may draw the ire of Weehawken residents, many of whom have come out against the company’s plans to expand its re-fueling and maintenance facility in the township. The ferries hauling freight to and from the city would need to refuel and undergo maintenance amid the increased usage under the new plan.

Residents have criticized NY Waterway for an alleged lack of transparency about its intentions for the facility, its noise and air pollution, and other issues, mobilizing and forming an opposition group known as Weehawken Residents Against Ferry Pollution. Meanwhile, the ferry operator has defended its plans, stating that it has always been clear about its intentions for the site, claiming that the new configuration would decrease pollution.

Mayor Richard Turner is skeptical of the company’s plan ever coming before the Weehawken Planning Board and voiced his concerns calling it a “difficult sell,” but also encouraged residents not to prejudge an application before its submitted to the board for legal reasons. However, residents remain steadfast in their opposition to NY Waterway and its plans.

Most recently, residents met with state Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who represents the 33rd Legislative District which encompasses Weehawken, to demonstrate their home’s close proximity to the current facility and voice their concerns about the potential planned expansion.

The resistance to NY Waterway’s plans will surely continue, despite the fact that an application for final site plan review has not yet been heard before the planning board.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Officials reopen Laurel Hill Park after renovations

Hudson Reporter

December 21, 2021

12secpark30 — Officials from the area cut the ribbon reopening the park on Dec. 20.

Officials from the Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) and Hudson County held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the site of the newly completed Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus on Dec. 20.

The new park was designed by HCST and Neglia Engineering Associates who began the project last winter. The rejuvenation of the approximately three-acre park cost $1.3 million and includes basketball courts, dual tennis and pickleball courts, an outdoor gym and fitness area, passive park path, and an additional open lawn area. It also offers parking for the public, and serves as a student pick-up and drop-off area.

The ribbon cutting celebrated the new park, which was built through a close collaboration between the county, the town of Secaucus, and the school district. Funds for the additions and upgrades were procured through grants. Laurel Hill Park is again open for use by students as well as the public.

The ceremony was attended by HCST Board President and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise’s Chief of Staff Craig Guy, Hudson County Board of Commissioners, Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, HCST Board of Education members, along with HCST Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez, as well as other school, local and county officials.

“We are so excited to see this project come to fruition,” said DeGise. “Laurel Hill Park was a wonderful collaboration between the County, Mayor Gonnelli, the town of Secaucus, and the District and will be a great addition to the HCST and wider Secaucus community.”

“Laurel Hill Park is such an exciting development on the High Tech High School campus,” said Lin-Rodriguez. “It will serve as a valuable resource for students, as well as being open to the public after school hours. We were able to open the park less than a year after the project began, and are so grateful to Hudson County and everyone involved for their dedication and commitment to getting this done.”

“Laurel Hill Park is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in its conception and development,” said Gonnelli. “The town is committed to serving its residents, and this park will make a concrete impact on the quality of life for HCST students and all of Secaucus.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Secaucus council approves directional roadway changes

Hudson Reporter

December 16, 2021

12seccouncil23 — Second Street, pictured here at the intersection of Flanagan Way via Google Maps, will now be a one-way road in the opposite direction.

The Secaucus Town Council has adopted an ordinance changing the direction of some roads in town. According to Town Administrator Gary Jeffas, the changes came after suggestions from the neighborhood.

“Just based on resident requests, and the mayor and councilmen knocking on doors and speaking with the residents, there was just a request to change the one-way directions between First Street and Fourth Street,” Jeffas said. “Now First Street will be coming out towards Flanagan Way. Second Street will going in toward Centre Avenue. Third Street will be coming out toward Flanagan Way, and Fourth Street will be going in toward Centre Avenue.”

The ordinance changes the direction of Second Street between Front Street and Flanagan Way. While that portion of Second Street currently runs toward Flanagan, it will be reversed. Similarly, Fourth Street between Centre Avenue and Front Street and Front Street and Flanagan Way is a two-way road that will now be a one-way toward Centre Avenue.

The move was not being done without consideration for current traffic. Jeffas said the police did a study of the area and this new roadway set up will lead to a “cleaner traffic flow.”

The change will occur over a number of weeks as the town readies its signage and performs any necessary street painting. A notice will go out in advance to those living on the streets affected to make them aware of the date the change will officially occur.

Encouraging electric vehicle parking

Another matter regarding vehicles and traffic was also adopted at the meeting, specifically an ordinance promoting the construction of electric vehicle parking spaces. The ordinance would encourage “electric vehicle supply/service equipment” as well as “make-ready parking spaces,” which are normal parking spaces that can be converted to electric parking spaces later on.

“It requires builders, when they’re constructing, to put in a certain amount of electric vehicle parking spots,” said Jeffas.

The ordinance, based on a model ordinance unveiled by Gov. Phil Murphy, aims to makes it easier for people to drive electric by streamlining the local approval process for installing convenient and cost-effective charging infrastructure. The ordinance provides minimum requirements and consistent guidance for electric vehicle parking.

According to Jeffas, under the ordinance electric vehicles would count for double the parking requirement when developers are constructing parking.

“Under the state guidelines which we adopted, there’s a provision in there that if you put in one electric vehicle parking spot, it would count as two parking spots,” he said. “It helps a builder out, because if you’re building something that requires 50 parking spots, if you put in some electric vehicle spots, they count as two spots.”

In addition, make-ready spots would also count toward the requirement. Overall, Jeffas said it would be a good way to incentivize constructing electric parking spots. The council voted unanimously to approve both ordinances at its Dec. 13 meeting.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen further defines parameters of local cannabis industry

Hudson Reporter

December 16, 2021

12nbcannabis23 — Only three cannabis cultivators are permitted in North Bergen.

The North Bergen Board of Commissioners has adopted an ordinance amending the township’s pre-existing cannabis ordinance to further define regulations and restrictions.

The ordinance amends the original ordinance adopted in July to set forth specific provisions for cannabis microbusinesses, set additional limits on the number of cannabis businesses in the township, include medical cannabis related businesses within various requirements of the ordinance, and provide additional factors to be considered by the Cannabis Committee in evaluating cannabis business applications.

In order to operate any cannabis business in North Bergen, an entity will first need permits or licenses from both the state and township. The township will issue its license, valid for one year, through the Cannabis Committee consisting of the Township Administrator, Chief of Police, and the Director of Community Improvement, or their designees.

According to the ordinance, there will still be only two township-issued licenses issued to cannabis retailers, defined as establishments where “cannabis items and related supplies are sold to consumers.” But now micro-businesses and medical cannabis dispensaries will count toward the two-retailer limit.

“Those are smaller operations with a smaller number of employees, 2,500 square feet or less,” Township Counsel Tom Kobin said when the ordinance was introduced. “One of the changes we made is to say that if we have a micro-business, it counts against the cap of authorized licenses.”

One retailer will be located north of 43rd Street on Tonnelle Avenue and the other south of it. They cannot be within 1,000 feet of each other nor within the range of any school.

Limiting the number of licenses

The new ordinance will limit licenses for cannabis cultivators, distributors, manufacturers, and wholesalers permitted in the township’s industrial districts. There will be three licenses issued for each type, with one of each being a micro-business.

“We want to make sure we proceed cautiously, with baby steps, with respect to the cultivators, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors,” Kobin said.

Under the ordinance, micro-businesses will not be permitted to expand to a standard license. Medical cannabis cultivators or wholesalers will be permitted and also count toward the three-license limit for each type.

Cannabis delivery services and consumption areas are still prohibited. In total, there can be up to 14 establishments including two retailers, three cultivators, three wholesalers, three manufacturers, and three distributors.

“We’re being cautious,” Mayor Nicholas Sacco said. “Many municipalities have turned down any cannabis use in their town, any retail, or growing, or cultivating. So it’s 70 percent out. We are one of the 30 percent that are in. I think it’s something that is the right thing to do. It’s allowed in New Jersey, and we should at least reap the benefits financially of having it in our borders.”

Officials said that the ordinance will likely be amended again in the future as the township continues to navigate the emerging industry. The board voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance at its Dec. 9 meeting.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

North Bergen seeks improvements to 46th Street Park

Hudson Reporter

December 14, 2021

12nbspace23 — The township is looking to overhaul 46th Street Park. Image via Google Maps

North Bergen wants to make improvements to a park in the southern portion of the township. But first it needs to secure funding.

The township’s Board of Commissioners has approved two resolutions applying for a grant from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund for renovations to 46th Street Park. The park is located at 1223 46th Street, across from the Grove Church Cemetery.

The park is currently home to a playground, a basketball court, a baseball field, and a pedestrian walkway surrounding the baseball field as well as other amenities. The township is seeking to completely modernize the park and ball fields, akin to recent renovations at Policeman’s Memorial Park at 1455 Union Turnpike and the opening of the new park at 1811 Paterson Plank Road.

For the park area, the township is looking to: put in new playground equipment; resurface the basketball courts and outfit them with new backboards and rims; install new sheltered park benches; create an expanded splash park; repave the pedestrian walkway; repave the parking lot and add new spaces; install a trench system for draining; renovate the restrooms and storage building; relocate the dog run; create a new regular seating area; install new fencing; repair the existing staircase; and install new in-ground trash receptacles throughout the park.

For the ball field area, the North Bergen is seeking to: install synthetic turf for both baseball and softball that includes a synthetic shock absorption for safety; put in a drainage system; replace the light fixtures and fencing; install a press box, covered bleachers, an on-field ball pens and new dugouts.

There are no renderings or plan specifics yet, as the township seeks to first secure financing for the project. The board approved the township’s submission of two separate applications, for both park and ball field upgrades, at its Dec. 8 meeting.

Essential grant funding

After the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Robert Pittfield told the Hudson Reporter that the township had been looking to renovate the park for some time. The grant funding is necessary to bring the projection to fruition. Part of the cost has to do with the site’s terrain.

“Estimates are in at about four million or so for the outstanding grade renovations,” Pittfield said.

The park must be graded, meaning the topography must be fixed, as part of the planned upgrades. The grant funds would cover the cost of both the grading and the other proposed improvements.

As the township awaits to hear back from the county regarding approval for the project, it is continuing to look for other sources to fund it. This isn’t the first grant the township has applied to in regards to the project; previously, it applied for a state grant through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program for the project to no avail.

“Unfortunately we weren’t on their award list,” he said. “So we’re applying for a Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund grant and looking at other sources of funding as well.”

Meanwhile, the township is also conducting the second phase of the renovations to 10th Street Park. Additionally, the new Community Center and Library is currently under construction but nearing completion at 2123 Kennedy Boulevard.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

HCCC Director of Cultural Affairs for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commemorates 20th Anniversary of 9/11

Hudson Reporter

December 14, 2021

To those in New York and New Jersey art circles, she is renowned as WOOLPUNK®, but at Hudson County Community College (HCCC) she is Michelle Vitale, the Director of Cultural Affairs for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. WOOLPUNK®’s original works, Ocufluent I & II, are being exhibited throughout the holiday season in the Oculus Transportation Hub at 2 World Trade Center in New York City. The works pay tribute to lives lost on September 11^th, and to all those who are suffering 20 years later.

To create the works, WOOLPUNK® combined her photos of the Oculus after its 2016 opening with handstitched flowers. The photos capture a sacred space where feelings of shock, terror, loss, and grief coexist with renewal; the flowers memorialize, hearten, and honor those whose lives were lost. “I strongly believe that art can heal,” WOOLPUNK® stated. “Acknowledging the painful memories of 9/11 allows for reflection, which is essential in building a stronger, more united world.”

Ocufluent I & II was originally curated by Karin Bravin of BravinLee Programs in the summerlong “RE:GROWTH” exhibition in Manhattan’s Riverside Park. The Oculus exhibit is made possible by Hudson County Community College President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (PACDEI), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Karen Bravin of BravinLee Programs, all of whom want to inspire hope for the New Year.

“Hudson County Community College is very proud to help provide these works with a venue where thousands can view and appreciate them,” said HCCC President, Dr. Chris Reber. “The message this art conveys is especially meaningful, and reflects the College’s core values of diversity, equity and inclusion. As a community, we live and breathe the value of human dignity and respect as we learn, teach, and work with one another.”

“The attacks of September 11th forever altered our skyline, collective ways of living, and ways of viewing the world,” said Yeurys Pujols, HCCC Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “In the 20 years that have followed, our resilience, resolve, and compassion for one another continue to prove that no challenge can prevent our communities from prevailing. Together, there is nothing we cannot overcome and accomplish.”

Dr. Laura Auricchio, Dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center and Professor of Art History shared: “Over the summer, I spotted two WOOLPUNK® public artworks inspired by the Oculus and designed to pay homage to those who lost their lives, and those still affected by the horrific events of 9/11. Nearly 20 years after the attack on the World Trade Center, I finally brought myself to visit the Oculus for the first time. The visit brought me some peace.”

WOOLPUNK® is a New Jersey native who, inspired by an immigrant seamstress grandmother who sewed American flags for a living, machine knits fiber installations, quilt sculptures, and embroiders photographs to influence social change. She has fabricated site-specific installations for a variety of institutions, and her knitted works are part of the “Walking Palm” group exhibition that opened on December 10, 2021 at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. WOOLPUNK® has exhibited at Monira Foundation at Mana (Jersey City), Lion Brand Yarn Studio (New York), Montclair Art Museum, Object and Thought Gallery (Denver, CO), Salve Regina Gallery (Washington, DC), and other venues.

Rematch in West New York?

Hudson Reporter

December 13, 2021

12wnyroque23 — Former Mayor Dr. Felix Roque

Former West New York Mayor Dr. Felix Roque has hinted at possibly challenging incumbent Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez in the 2023 municipal election.

Rodriguez previously beat Roque in 2019 in close fight, with Roque losing a seat on the WNY Board of Commissioners by only 674 votes. According to past reporting from the Hudson Reporter, the campaign leading up to that election was brutal and left Town Hall at a standstill.

On Facebook, Roque posted multiple photos of sidewalks covered in garbage and wrote: “The organization ‘New Beginning’ headed by Mr. Gabriel Rodríguez, present mayor and who was a commissioner in my administration, I don’t think learned to respect and care for the people. We can’t allow the disaster to continue in our beloved city. If they can’t do the job then I’ll have to take the mayor’s position again. Your days are numbered. Put your batteries on and work for the people.”

In another post, Roque continued slamming Rodriguez: “[We] pay too much taxes and soon our taxes will be raised again,” Roque wrote. “Stop the abuse against residents of West New York. I don’t blame the employees of this administration, I blame the leaders who make over 100K… Enough already.”

A photo of a street in WNY posted by Roque.

Observing and waiting

Roque told the Hudson Reporter that he has been keeping on eye on Rodriguez since he took office, and criticized the current mayor over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have been observing the job that the new Administration has done in the past two years and if I had to give them a grade it would be a D for deficient,” Roque said. “As a physician it pained me to see how unprepared and unorganized they were in the response to COVID crisis. Due to their mismanagement, hundreds of West New Yorkers will be one family member less at the dinner table this Christmas. The mayor cracked under pressure and people died. End of story.”

Roque again said that the streets in town were dirty and added that rents were high.

“Most of my patients live in West New York and it is disheartening to hear the complaints of higher rent and filthy streets,” Roque said. “In a time where residents are hurting to make an honest living the administration voted to give themselves a 15K raise. Their priorities are not in line with the people’s priorities.”

Roque is referring to an introduced ordinance that would increase salary ranges and raise the minimum wage to $15 for a number of town employees. However, despite the flagrant criticisms of the Rodriguez Administration, Roque has not yet decided for certain if he will run again.

Rodriguez not phased

In a statement to the Hudson Reporter, Rodriguez was not paying Roque any mind.

“The health, safety, and quality of life of our residents is and will always be our top priority,” Rodriguez said. “With all that is going on in the world today, to entertain this nonsense is ridiculous and distracts from addressing what is most important, our community’s needs, something Roque was not good at and clearly knows nothing about.”

Instead of responding to Roque’s allegations, Rodriguez instead promoted the COVID-19 vaccine site in town, apparently taking the higher road.

“For those who are interested in obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot at our Memorial High School Gym, please use the Holy Name Medical Center link below to make your appointment,” Rodriguez said.

For more information, go to https://vaccine.holyname.org/C19VACWNY.

Meanwhile, the NJ Attorney General’s Office has sought to revoke Roque’s license to practice medicine and surgery after he allegedly inappropriately wrote prescriptions for high dosages of the powerful opioid and cancer pain medication “Subsys,” after allegedly receiving substantial payments from the drug’s manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics, Inc.

From 2013 through 2015, Roque allegedly accepted more than $53,000 in “speaker’s fee” payments, meals and travel from Insys, including allegedly attending a conference in Arizona. According to the Attorney General’s Office, one of Roque’s patients allegedly overdosed on a Subsys prescription he allegedly wrote.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Weehawken introduces $48 million budget for 2022

Hudson Reporter

December 10, 2021

12weebudget16 — The budget hearing will be held at Weehawken Town Hall on Dec. 22. Image via Google Maps

The Weehawken Township Council has introduced its fiscal year 2022 budget. If approved by the state, the council will hold a public hearing and vote on its budget at its next meeting on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Chambers at Town Hall at 400 Park Avenue. For more information, go to weehawken-nj.us.

The council introduced the $48,632,319 budget at its Nov. 22 meeting. It is now awaiting approval from the state Local Finance Board in Trenton before the township can adopt it.

This year’s budget is a 1.25 percent increase since last year’s budget, according to Mayor Richard Turner. Since the 2019-2020 budget, it has decreased by 5.5 percent, Turner told the Hudson Reporter.

“I guess we could say faring better,” he said. “You know we ended the first year of COVID-19 with a $3 million deficit. This year we’re ending with a $2 million deficit.”

Revenue loss

The deficit was largely caused by a major loss in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For 18 months, our parking revenues were nonexistent,” Turner said. “We get a lot of parking revenue from the waterfront, but UBS is working from home. There’s no parking revenues.”

In addition to lost parking tax revenue, there was also a decline in revenue related to construction.

“Building permits and fees were nonexistent now since Memorial Day,” Turner said. “There was no construction going on. The developers are only starting now to get back to things that they already got approval for. So that just picked up a little bit. It’s been a very chaotic almost two years now… We had all these revenue losses: the parking tax, tax fees and permits.”

Revenue from the hotel tax also decreased as the hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic.

“We receive almost $1 million in hotel tax from the Sheraton and the On view and that was non existent,” Turner said. “That’s starting to come back, so we’re managing the deficit very well. The state of New Jersey has helped a lot. Senator Brian Stack has helped a lot, making sure this legislation gets through because it helps the whole state.”

Spreading out the deficit

According to Turner, the state has let municipalities spread out their deficit over a number of years.

“The state has allowed towns to adjust for the deficit, so you don’t hit the taxpayers with everything upfront,” he said. We’ve been very good at managing that. The state has put laws in place so we can take care of the deficits.”

Because of that, the township was able to keep tax rates “extremely stable,” according to Turner.

And as the deficit decreases to $2 million, Turner hopes to keep bringing it down in the next budget. That is, if the new Omicron variant of the virus doesn’t ruin those plans.

“Next year we hope to eliminate it if everything continues to go forward, except for the new variant,” he said.

New variant worries

“Everything was starting to pick up, revenues are coming in more and more,” Turner said. “We were looking forward to next year. Now we have to see what happens with the new variant.”

In terms of costs and expenses, the township slashed as much as it could to cope with the revenue loss, according to Turner.

“We have kept our expenditures down,” he said. “They are well below what they were. It’s all just a question of will everything continue to move forward or will we have a little backsliding because of the new variant? We’re approaching two years of the pandemic and things were picking up. Now we’ll see what happens.”

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Union City introduces 2022 budget totaling over $160 million

Hudson Reporter

December 9, 2021

12ucboc16 — Mayor Brian Stack and the Union City Board of Commissioners met on Dec. 7.

The Union City Board of Commissioners have voted to introduce the city’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget.

The board voted unanimously to do so at its Dec. 7 meeting at Colin Powell Elementary at 1500 New York Avenue. This year, the budget totals $160,508,491. This marks a 5.84 percent increase, or $8,856,555 from last year’s total budget of $151,651,935.

The $160,508,491 in revenues is made up of $2,500,000 in surplus, $16,902,353 in local revenue, $45,575,162 in state aid, $16,066,276 in state and federal grants, $47,780 in delinquent tax, $77,863,025 in local tax, and $1,553,893.

Everything is up from last year’s budget, except for delinquent tax which dropped by 96.5 percent, or $1,163,062, from $1,210,843. The surplus saw a notable increase of 100.84 percent or $1,255,203, increasing from $1,244,796 in 2021.

The local tax levy increased by 1.96 percent or $1,499,852 from $76,363,172 in 2021 to $77,863,025. The local tax rate increased by .0976 percent from 4.9689 percent in 2021 to 5.0665 percent.

The 160,508,491 in appropriations consists of $44,678,926 in salaries and wage, $70,427,813 in other expenses, $10,843,018 in statutory and deferred charges, $16,227,777 in state and federal grants, $4,800,000 in capital, $12,966,511 in debt service, and $564,443 in reserve for uncollected taxes. Everything increased except for statutory and deferred charges, which decreased by 28.61 percent or $4,345,000 from $15,188,019 in 2020, and reserve for uncollected taxes which decreased by 55.12 percent or $693,160 from $1,257,603 in 2021.

Included in this budget is the $13,309,091 that Union City received in federal COVID-19 recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Budget breakdown

At the meeting, the board held a public hearing on the budget. During the hearing, Chief Financial Officer Tammy Zucca shared details about this year’s budget. According to Zucca, this year’s budget is currently looking good.

“The budget is in balance,” she said. “It looks like it’s on the right track.”

While the board introduced and held a public hearing on the budget, it did not adopt it as it is under review by the Local Finance Board.

“It won’t be adopted until next year,” she said. “We need to get the state approval for us to adopt.”

Following that, the city can tweak the budget as it needs, she said: “After it’s adopted, we will make amendments to it.”

According to Zucca, there were some increases in health insurance costs to $23,956,278.

“We had some increases in health insurance, nothing out of the ordinary. I feel like it’s going to stay where it needs to stay. With COVID we had some issues, but we’re recovering from it.”

Approval soon

Mayor Brian Stack thanked Zucca as well as the Finance Department for collaborating on the city’s budget.

“I’d like to thank the Finance Department for their work on the budget,” he said. “I worked with them closely them on this and I thank them for their work.”

The board will vote to approve the budget sometime in January next year, following state approval. Read a copy of the introduced budget on the city’s website at: https://www.ucnj.com/_Content/pdf/budgets/Introduced-2022-Budget.pdf.

The next Union City Board of Commissioners meeting will be on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Elementary School at 1401 Central Avenue. For more information, go to the ucnj.com and click on the event on the calendar webpage.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].