Dear Neighbor,

For the second year in a row my administration passed a balanced budget that provides expanded and consistent quality services to residents and visitors alike. And despite the depressed economy in the region, I've held the line on property taxes, and continued development on the Waterfront and in our neighborhoods to the tune of $2.5 billion in new construction that's currently underway.

We are proud to announce the graduation of our most recent fire academy, where 50 men and women have joined the ranks of the city's bravest. This year, for the first time in the 132-year history of the Jersey City Fire Department, two women, Maureen Nally and Constance Zappella, were sworn in as firefighters. We welcome them and the new recruits.

We also hired 50 new Jersey City Police recruits, who are in the midst of training at the Jersey City Police Academy. Soon you will see them walking the beat on our city streets to make our neighborhoods safer places to live.

COUNTY TAXES

While the City of Jersey City has been successful at keeping the tax rate down, the Hudson County government under County Executive Tom DeGise has increased spending and has raised the county tax portion in this tax bill. Tom DeGise's County Budget that was adopted by the Board of County Freeholders has increased the amount to be raised from Jersey City taxpayers from $52 million last year to $58 million this year.

If you compare the County Tax portion of last year's tax bill to this year's, you will find that the County tax rate has increased nearly 10%. Last year the tax rate for the county was $1.021 per $100 of assessed value. This year the County Tax rate increased to $1.113 per $100 assessed value. That means that if your house is assessed at $200,000, last year you paid $2,042 in County taxes, and this year you will pay $2,226, which is $184 more.

This increase was unexpected. When County Executive Tom DeGise introduced his budget on April 22, 2003, he promised a reduction in County spending and to lower County taxes. The truth is his budget increased by nearly $11 million and Jersey City was hit with the bulk of the increase, a stiff $6 million hike.

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise's offices are located at the Justice Brennan Court House at 583 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. The phone number for Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise is 201-795-6200. His fax number is 201-714-4825.

If you check your past tax bills for the last two years, you will find that my administration has been successful at lowering the tax rate on your tax bill. Last year the tax rate for Jersey City, which is listed as Municipal Tax portion, was $1.985 per $100 assessed value of your home. This year the rate was lowered to $1.935 per $100 assessed value. That means that if you owned a home worth $200,000, you will pay $100 less this year.

CLEAN STREETS

Also, as we continue to work to meet the challenges of providing the essential City services and improve the quality of life for our residents, there is still much work to be done. While our Department of Public Works continues its citywide street repaving initiative, we also need to focus on cleaning our streets.

There is currently before the City Council an ordinance that will allow the Jersey City Incinerator Authority to purchase new street sweepers and sidewalk sweepers to help clean our neighborhoods. To date the Council has not passed this ordinance. We will not be able to begin the critical work of cleaning our streets to make our neighborhoods cleaner until this critical ordinance is passed by the Council.

Our current street sweepers are old and frequently break down. It is imperative that we give our city workers the tools they need to clean our neighborhoods. Until the City Council releases these funds, our crews are forced to rely on dilapidated street sweepers or not clean streets at all. To have the funds released, call Council President Harvey Smith at 547-5268, (fax 547-4678). Jersey City's residents deserve clean streets.

To all, have a safe and pleasant summer.

Sincerely,

Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham

Follow Ups:

• Observations and Questions UBERHIPPY 10:07:29 09/10/03 (3)
  • DeGise Letter was Crude & Unprofessional DeGise Over reacted 10:50:00 09/10/03 (2)
    • Re: DeGise Letter was Crude & Unprofessional I am not Glazer 11:08:31 09/10/03 (1)
      • Thin Line Between Love & Hate DeGise Over Reacted 11:48:35 09/10/03 (0)