A packed public meeting in Jersey City Sunday night highlighted growing frustration over a proposed 20% tax increase aimed at closing a massive budget gap.
Residents filled the City Hall Annex, demanding answers about how they’re expected to shoulder the increase as the city faces a $255 million deficit.
“Why can’t we have some deadline dates for how long the 20% is going to be taken?” one resident asked. “We now have to find that money, and it’s not fair to us.”
Others expressed concern that the increase could push them out of Jersey City permanently.
“A 20% tax increase, there will be no next year,” another resident said. "I won't be able to afford to be in this city next year."
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon hosted the meeting and acknowledged the crowd's frustration.
“It makes me livid. It makes me extremely angry that this was allowed to happen,” he said. “We’re committed to making sure it never happens again.”
He told News 12 the city is dealing with millions in unpaid expenses from the previous mayor's administration, including what he described as roughly $110 million in outstanding credit card debt.
"There was real intentional deception behind the budget numbers," he said. "It's an insane amount of money."
The city has already made significant cuts by reducing spending by more than $50 million.
The amount, however, still isn’t enough to close the deficit.
The city is now waiting to hear whether the state will provide $120 million in aid to help ease the burden on residents.
“There’s been a tax increase happening already,” another resident said. “So in addition to that, another 20% almost overnight seems impossible for us to accept.”
Some residents are also calling for accountability, urging an investigation into how the city’s finances reached this point.
“The previous mayor ran us into the ground,” one longtime resident said. “Where did that money go? Explain to us.”
The city council is expected to vote on the proposed tax increase on July 1, with a final budget anticipated in August.