Mayor Fulop and City Council Approve $598 million Budget; includes Record Investments in Public Safety, Public Schools and Public Services

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the City Council announce the passing of the $598 million budget for the City of Jersey City.  This year’s budget focuses on long-term planning with new fiscal management and government efficiency initiatives to help reduce costs while generating new revenue.

“For 5 years our administration was able to deliver flat taxes to residents, an accomplishment that no other city in New Jersey has had.  So after 5 years of flat taxes, we thought a modest 2-percent increase to fund enhanced services for residents is reasonable,”  Mayor Fulop said.

The adoption of the 2019 budget is consistent with the Fulop Administration’s long-term plan of being less reliant on tax abatements and balancing a budget with sustainable revenues while at the same time increasing public safety investments, public services, and investments in parks citywide.

Highlights of the adopted budget include:

• $18 million reduction of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (Tax Abatement) revenue.

• Includes the hiring of 75 new police recruits and 20 new firefighters – maintaining both departments with the highest personnel totals in decades.

• Funding to expand recreation programs with a new division for children with special needs.

• Funding for an intra-city transit system to serve Greenville and the Heights.

• $38 million in new funding sources for the Jersey City Public Schools ($27 million from payroll tax, an $8 million municipal budget increase, and $3 million in shared services).

“Jersey City has received four consecutive credit rating upgrades, and continues to be one of the most socially progressive mid-sized cities in the nation,” said Brian Platt, Business Administrator. “In creating this year’s budget, we have analyzed every aspect of our City to determine how to best move forward.  As Jersey City continues to grow, we will continue to identify innovative funding strategies to provide the quality services residents deserve.”