Protesters in Jersey City take aim at the mayor and council's decision to hike taxes 15.5%
The city is raising rates to fill a $255 million dollar budget gap.
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A 15.5% tax bump is a done deal in Jersey City. It was recently approved by the council with a 9-0 vote.
However, it’s not stopping people from protesting the decision by the mayor council.
While Mayor James Solomon was speaking out against corporate polluters from the steps of Cit Hall Monday, some people used it as a chance to take aim at the mayor and council.
Those protesters, backed by a box truck that read, “don’t tax family’s out of Jersey City,” aren’t happy with rising rates.
However, some fear the increased cost will be piled onto other high costs of living. LaTrayer Sumter-Moreau lives in the Greenville section of Jersey City.
"It already hit me hard, we paid our taxes in August, so my taxes went up by $500 this quarters, so now when you think about that for each quarter that’s $2,000 for the year. There’s no plan to lower it after this bill is paid so it’s going to affect me. My mom has a house in Greenville, my sister has a house we’re all affected by it," said Sumter-Moreau.
The mayor says it’s needed to plug a $255 million budget hole. In response, Mayor Solomon has said he inherited this problem from the former Mayor Steven Fulop.
Mayor Solomon's office issued the following response:
“People should be angry, and Mayor Solomon is acting to ensure this never happens again by reducing spending by nearly $60 million, securing $120 million in aid, and limiting the impact on taxpayers.”
Thirty-one city employees were laid off to save money.
The mayor believes this action will stabilize the budget and ensure the city doesn’t find itself again in this kind of debt in the future.
