MORT Wants a Fiscal Monitor

Original graph by Eric Kurta, updated by GA

Well, that's my opinion folks. Answer this.

What happens if the City Council can't pass it's budget? And can't even pass EMERGENCY budget appropriations to meet the City's payroll?

The State takes over.  And appoints a Fiscal Monitor, as they did in 2008 when they sent (the late) Judy Tripodi to Hoboken.

In 2008, a state fiscal monitor was appointed to oversee Hoboken's finances after city officials were not able to pass a balanced budget. The monitor, who has the authority to overule city council votes, may be removed if state officials approve the new budget.

Here's what I see, and why I say the Council Minority wants a State takeover.

• The mayoral race has begun. 
• Zimmer's opponents are running on "Incompetence".  
• Zimmer's opponents on the City Council are suing to keep that 5th vote required to PASS a budget OFF.  They LOST their lawsuit but are holding off that 5th vote on the budget with an appeal to the NJ Appellate Court which is not being heard until May.  Since the lawsuit and appeals are being underwritten by Moneybags Mason, she can keep afford to keep it alive all the way to the NJ Supreme Court.
• Timmy Occhipinti revealed MORT's strategy last Saturday.  Occhipinti said, "Good luck passing a budget."  Tim Occhpinti telegraphed that his 'coalition' has no intention of passing a budget. WHICH WILL TRIGGER A FISCAL MONITOR APPOINTMENT.
• When the State intervenes, MORT will trumpet  "Zimmer is incompetent" and "Zimmer can't fix a pothole OR pass a budget" campaign themes.  Blame, blame, blame. They will try to make the Mayor look weak.
• Occhipinti will be (before or after) rolled out as their candidate, and his campaign will promise  a 'solution' to get rid of the Fiscal Monitor.

That's my theory.  And if you don't believe me, just ask Tim Occhipinti who said: "Good luck passing a budget."

The late Judy Tripodi, State Fiscal monitor,  presided over our 2008 and 2009 budgets.  Let's take a look at the 3 budget cycles after the State left.

2010 Budget
Adopted 7-2 
YES: Russo, Giacchi, Bhalla, Cunningham, Mello, Lenz, Marsh
NO: Mason, Castellano

2011 Budget
Adopted 5-4
YES: Bhalla, Mello, Cunningham, Giattino, Marsh
NO: Mason, Russo, Castellano, Occhipinti

Why did the 2011 budget take so long to pass?  

Because of City Council OBSTRUCTIONISTS under the leadership of then-CC President Beth Mason who attempted to ZERO out our budget surplus. Once Reform took back the majority, City operations continued and a balanced budget was passed.

Last month, Councilwoman Beth Mason—then serving as council president—introduced a resolution, zeroing out the cash surplus, with the goal of returning that money to the tax payers.The state, however, had not approved the budget before this amendment was passed, leaving the amendment to the budget meaningless (a budget can't be adopted or amended by a city council before the state approves it).

In the meantime, power shifted on the city council, returning the majority to the hands of Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Zimmer has said that the city needs a cash surplus for unexpected costs. One such cost will likely be the back pay to Hoboken's fire fighters, whose contracts expired three years ago.During the last council meeting, the new majority re-instated a $5 million cash surplus. The municipal tax levy in this budget went down by 3.6 percent, according to Finance Director Nick Trasente.

A final vote, adopting the budget, will be held on Wednesday. It's expected to pass, with at least the five majority council members voting in favor

2012 Budget
Adopted 5-4
YES: Bhalla, Mello, Cunningham, Giattino, Marsh
NO: Mason, Russo, Castellano, Occhipinti 

Why did the 2012 budget pass in "the shortest time frame in over a decade?"

Because the Mayor and REFORM City Council majority worked cooperatively to pass a budget which lowered property taxes a stunning 10% and left Hoboken with a 5% cash surplus (Mason and the Minority wanted to ZERO out the surplus)...  thankfully Reform prevailed because the surplus was CRITICAL to fund Hoboken after the  HURRICANE SANDY disaster.

Hoboken leads way in Hudson in holding line on taxes
City officials in the Mile Square City chopped property taxes a whopping 10 percent last year, according to an analysis that appeared in today's  Star-Ledger.

"I am particularly proud this tax cut was achieved without using any budgetary gimmicks," Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said, noting "fair contracts" recently negotiated with the police and fire departments, as well as the reorganization of several city departments.

While Hoboken taxpayers received some much needed property tax relief, most residents elsewhere in the county saw property taxes rise higher than 2.4 percent, which was the average statewide increase.

So, what do you think?

Tim Occhipinti votes NO on funding to fix hurricane-damaged Pier C Park.