City Council Meeting – 12/2/2009
02
December
12/2/2009 Update:
First Budget introduced tonight
Watch the December 2, 2009 City Council Video Rewind and Chat after the jump!
(Hoboken City Council Meeting, 12/2/2009)
12/1/2009:
Tough times ahead?
So I threw three darts at the City Council Agenda for the meeting of Wednesday, December 2nd – and here’s what’s in store!
Oh – see the Resolution Pack here as well!
Something resembling a budget will be introduced
The fiscal year 2010 Hoboken City Budget will be introduced on Wednesday night. Without getting into too much detail here today – don’t think for a minute that this won’t go through weeks or months of amendments, revisions and debate. At this point, it’s merely a topic of discussion, and will likely be much worse than you anticipate.
We’ll see how that pans out.
Over $400k in tax appeals – tip of the iceberg?
This week’s agenda lists over $405,000 worth of property tax refunds given to residents who appealed their massive 47% tax increase.
Buzz around town is that more and more residents are learning how to get their payments reduced, and this liability to the city can easily reach millions of dollars. Not in the budget, that’s for sure!
Deed of Dedication – Maxwell Place Park
Your average resident has NO IDEA what “blocks and lots” are – and the city likes it that way. An ordinance up for first reading is: “ACCEPTING A DEED OF DEDICATION FOR BLOCK 261.05, LOT 1, BLOCK 261.06, LOT 1 AND BLOCK 261.07, LOT 2 FROM P.T. MAXWELL, LLC TO THE CITY OF HOBOKEN.”
What they’re referring to is the Hoboken City Tax Map, which isn’t publicly available online for anyone to peruse.
Like other more progressive municipalities – these types of communications should not only list blocks and lots – but physical addresses as well as visual maps that display the property in question. (Although the resolution pack goes into more detail)
In this case, the block 261 mentioned is the Maxwell Place Park (see older image below without the new parcel layers – I couldn’t find the new map myself). And in simpler terms means: “The Maxwell Place Waterfront Park was sold to the city of Hoboken for $1.00″
SEE LIVE STREAMING VIDEO AND “COUNCIL CHAT” TOMORROW EVENING!
December 1st 2009 - 18:54:27 |
I hear the budget has only a 5% tax decrease. What happened to our 25% decrease? I guess we just borrow again for all the capital items we need since there is no funds.I know, it was those arburtraitors again that is why the Revolt group is backing off, need to pass the blame on to someone else. Come on Scott we knew all along it was a front for Zimmer. Why aren’t you on the steps of city hall with your friend Donna? Different circus just new clowns.
REVOLT have you read the new SCI report from the state. Let’s see how many of the items that were spent crazy and outlined get changed in the new contracts. OH NO, it must be the arburtraitor again.
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December 1st 2009 - 23:17:38 |
Re: a tax cut
I’ve been looking for signs and all I see is
INTRODUCTION OF THE SFY 2010 MUNICIPAL BUDGET in bigger font than anything in the agenda, including the word “agenda.”
This is all about beating a deadline but there’s no tax relief. Cammarano (before he was arrested) delivered a 5% tax cut in the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2009. What number will the Zimmer administration use to come up with even 5%?
There are still a lot of people that refuse to hold the mayor accountable because they like her as a person.
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January 4th 2010 - 15:07:35 |
Anyone know the specifics of how to go about appealing your taxes? I’m up to about $5000 in 2009 for a 516 sq. ft. apartment and that just seems absurdly high to me. Its an old crappy building (but renovated unit) from 1920 or so. In the 4 years i’ve lived there, I’ve never had anyone come appraise for taxes.
Castlepointwatcher? Anyone?
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January 4th 2010 - 16:16:42 |
Contact anyone of the local attorneys who specialize in real estate law. There are plenty in Hoboken and many are doing more appeals than closings now. Probably 80% of my friends have completed an appeal or are in the process.
Conveniently, 411 provided a list of attorneys under Categories: http://hoboken411.com/archives/201
I hope Hoboken’s budget is prepared for an onslaught of property tax appeals in 2010.
In response to Stabone130 who said:
Castlepointwatcher? Anyone?
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January 4th 2010 - 16:22:35 |
Re: I hope Hoboken’s budget is prepared for an onslaught of property tax appeals in 2010.
I read somewhere that Hoboken eliminated their budget reserves to cut taxes. They will bond most likely for the appeals. More smoke and mirrors and kicking the can down the road.
In response to youme66 who said:
Conveniently, 411 provided a list of attorneys under Categories: http://hoboken411.com/archives/201
I hope Hoboken’s budget is prepared for an onslaught of property tax appeals in 2010.
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January 4th 2010 - 16:31:00 |
But two council meetings ago, the Trisante guy told Councilman Cunningham that it’s illegal to bond to cover the tax appeals. If that’s true, won’t it require an assessment to cover the refunds?
In response to YipYap who said:
I read somewhere that Hoboken eliminated their budget reserves to cut taxes. They will bond most likely for the appeals. More smoke and mirrors and kicking the can down the road.
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January 4th 2010 - 16:33:42 |
re #6- Someone smarter than I will clarify it here eventually, my understanding was they cut the reserve in the first draft of the budget to present a tax cut to the angry mob of torch and pitchfork holders and something was mentioned about bonding.
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January 4th 2010 - 17:18:13 |
I am so sick and tired of hearing that the city is trying to “bond” some expense or other. It just means more debt for no good reason.
The amount our city pays in interest each year is totally absurd.
Cut municipal spending! Stop mortgaging our future!
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