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Solomon Postpones Jersey City Tax Increase Vote, Orders Further Service Cuts
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon announced Wednesday that he is pulling the proposed resolution increasing the city’s portion of the estimated tax increase from the June 24 City Council meeting, in response to public feedback.
Council President Denise Ridley, in consultation with the mayor, is scheduling a special meeting to consider the increase on July 1. Solomon will also host a community meeting on Sunday, June 28, to collect additional feedback on the 2026 budget before the special meeting.
Solomon, who proposed a 20% tax increase last week to address what the administration says is an inherited fiscal crisis, said residents told him the increase was too large and too fast.
“Since our announcement, I’ve heard from residents that the size and speed of this increase is too large and too fast for household finances to keep up with,” Solomon said. “I’ve directed my team to identify further cuts to city services and propose a plan that provides relief to residents and spreads out costs.”
Solomon was direct about the tradeoffs involved. “Reducing and spreading this increase out over time will come at a cost to services we all rely on every day. We will feel these cuts,” he said.
Ridley said the postponement gives the council more time to review spending. “I’ve heard from residents across every ward that this increase, as proposed, moves too fast for too many household budgets,” she said.
As an immediate step, the administration is pulling proposed contracts for park maintenance and composting services, totaling approximately $1 million. The administration said it will work with the council to identify additional cuts beyond the $55 million in savings already identified.
The community townhall will be held Sunday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex.
