The Jersey City Council approved an ordinance up for second and final reading to increase the salary ranges of 21 municipal employees, mostly directors, at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“Jersey City had 4,200 properties in tax liens … Your neighbor, Secaucus, had one. They’re 1/10 of our population. But if you multiply that by 10, that would only be 10 properties in tax liens. We’re talking about a city that’s begging and going into Trenton, and we have to get money to subsidize our budget,” Yvonne Balcer said during public comment.
She noted that HCV has previously reported that the Jersey City Board of Education’s preliminary budget came with a 17 percent tax hike, making her question how the city could possibly consider salary ranges during a quarter billion dollar budget crisis.
“What is reasonable? How much more do we have to pay? You people ran on the notion that you were different from the previous administration. Yet the previous administration also raised salaries. So how different are you? You’re not!” Balcer exclaimed.
“If I were a legislator in Trenton and I’m seeing you’re talking about raising salaries … and you want money from me to balance your budget, I would say no to you! I’m not against salary increases. I’m not. But you have to first take care of your home,” Balcer argued.
Another resident, Danielle, D’Adamo, said that the need to hire qualified candidates to lead the city makes sense, but agreed with Balcer that the timing was probably not right.
” … Residents right now are struggling with affordability, quality of life issues, with inconsistent services. And when they see salary increases at the top, the question becomes where’s the return on the investment?” D’Adamo questioned.
“If we’re going to support increases like this, then they must come with transparency, with clear expectations and with measurable outcomes that residents can actually feel in their day-to-day lives.”
Ward C Councilman Tom Zuppa asked that if the ordinance is approved, can those currently in the roles outlined in the ordinance have their salaries adjusted without council approval.
“Yes, they could be adjusted without going back to council. However … the administration is committed to making the council aware of any salary adjustments before they occur,” Acting Business Administrator Peter Horton replied.
The positions listed include the business administrator, finance director, CFO, mayor, city clerk, deputy city clerk, the directors of finance, human resources, department of public works, housing, economic development and commerce, public safety, recreation, and health and human resources, along with corporation counsel – among others.
“If we do receive that email and there is, I guess discrepancies, the next step is what?” City Council President Denise Ridley asked.
“What do you mean by discrepancy, councilwoman?” Horton responded.
“If the council has any questions about the salaries, we would just engage and work it out?” Ridley asked.
Horton noted that the administration can always be contacted directly and that the salaries will all be a part of the municipal budget when it’s introduced.
“With respect to these positions for the increases, if you can speak to how they’re equal to, or in the realm, of other first-class cities?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore asked.
Horton said the proposed salary ranges are in line with Newark and Paterson, similarly sized urban New Jersey cities.
“What are the ranges in those cities?” Gilmore asked, to which Horton answer that their department directors earn between $150,000 to $200,000 a year, while clerks and tax assessors earn between $150,000 and $175,000.
He added that their mayors fall within that range, with a salary of roughly $180,000. Jersey City Mayor James Solomon announced he was taking a $1 salary this year in wake of the budget crisis, as HCV first reported.
“I am sure Yvonne will be shocked, but I agree mostly with what she said. The only disagreement I have is that the ‘reasonably consistent’ allows the city to pay less than the other towns, not just more,” Zuppa stated during the vote.
“ … It could be our directors are paid less than what the BA (business administrator) in Newark is being paid. Because it says ‘reasonably consistent,’ I will vote aye. But I will be concerned about the spending in our budget going forward,” he added.
Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little’s remarks were similar to Zuppa’s, adding that she appreciated the administration’s commitment to being consistent with the council before voting yes.
“This one right here is a little different for me. I see what the administration is trying to do, trying to attract individuals of the top tier to help steer the ship to get us out of the pitfall. I do also understand the community’s cries as well … I’m going to abstain,” Gilmore stated.
The Jersey City Council approved the local legislation 7-0(2), with Gilmore and Councilman at-Large Michael Griffin abstaining.