Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Mike Lenz on the 5% Municipal Tax Cut being Introduced Tonight

4th Ward Hoboken City Councilman Mike Lenz Commented on his City Council blog about the budget being introduced at tonight's City council Meeting with a 5% decrease and why it can't in all likelihood be more....

His entry on his blog from August 31st (todaystates:

"This Wednesday the City Council starts the public process of adopting Hoboken’s final 2010 budget. Behind the scenes, we’ve been at work since last March when last year’s budget was put to bed. The mayor, finance committee, and the council are committed to giving taxpayers a five percent tax cut. To cut any more in this six-month transition period would require state approval, and until we’ve had our fiscal house in order for some time, it’s very unlikely we could get such approval."

he continues......

"The introduced budget does use some of the surplus to reduce taxes, but it maintains $10 million as working capital and as a cushion against financial shocks. This is toward the high end of the accepted 5-10% range for well run municipalities and will speed us toward a better bond rating. Given our history and exposure this is just what we should be doing."
 
To read  the whole post go to:
http://www.lenzforcouncil.com/2010/08/introducing-budget.html

My comment: There you have it. A rational explanation a why why the budget and the tax cuts are only 5% and no pandering to the media playing to the possibly lesser informed voter for cheap political points. I will leave it up to you the reader to decide which council person that is. ◦
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Posted by Hoboken Resistance at 8:50 AM

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Colin's avatar

Colin · 762 weeks ago

There was a midnight flyer plastered throughout the 2nd ward from Beth Mason last night. It said there was a 20 million surplus and that is is growing. She then says "They want to keep it. And worse they're spending it" The flyer then goes on to say how the Mayor gave a 31% raise to her aide and a 25% raise to her PR aide while laying off 17 police officers. Of course she doesn't mention how little those raises actually cost compared to the potential 2 million dollar savings the police layoffs will provide.

Who else is potentially running in the 2nd ward next time around? Is it this Greaney fellow?
5 replies · active 762 weeks ago
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Gardiner4Hoboken 90p · 762 weeks ago

I believe Tom Greaney does in fact plan to run against Beth Mason in the 2nd Ward. We are just awaiting the formal announcement. He is already meeting some key supporters and impressing people with his candor and the fact that he is intellligent, has a pulse, and is not Beth Mason.
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deleted8670214 100p · 762 weeks ago

Don't take this as me putting Tom down b/c I am not. I just think that not everyone w/ a pulse and who is not Beth Mason is desirable. For example, we don't want a Cammarano type person. I have slightly higher standards (just slightly) than a pulse, intelligence and not Beth Mason ;-)

I look forward to Tom running. Sounds like he more than exceeds my wildest dreams. Sounds like he has much more integrity than the person he'd be running against. I also understand he can count, do basic math and understand basic financial statements. That is a huge upgrade vs. Mason.
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khoboken's avatar

khoboken · 762 weeks ago

But does he have access to Ricky's money?
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Gardiner4Hoboken 90p · 762 weeks ago

He has actual Corporate experience. Since he works as an HR exec he understands budgeting and the value of benefit packages and alternatives. He has impressed in my estimation anyone who has met him so far. He is a fiscal conservative but socially progressive. His demeanor is professional and thoughtful.

BTW- I said that in jest in my previous post about Tom. I am very impressed so far but the election is a long way away. Judging by Mason's midnight flyers she has already started (or never stopped).
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InfotainMe · 762 weeks ago

Hi RG. Do you know where he did his HR stint? Just curious.
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khoboken's avatar

khoboken · 762 weeks ago

She is one note Bet. She is like a dog with a bone. WIll she sound off tonight or turn into mush when confronted again. It is kind of comical to see her whine and then when confronted fold up shop real quick and just sit there staring glumly in to space.
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ss1959's avatar

ss1959 · 762 weeks ago

ABB.
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Lookforward's avatar

Lookforward · 762 weeks ago

The 5% is attainable at this time and it is prudent to have backup funds for contracts still to be settled and the unexpected financial hurdles that are part of city government. Most past thoughts and comments about the management of this city were...'it should be run more like a business'....I think that this current budget and it's timing is in the right direction to upright our financial ship in a business - like manner and there can be more adjustments made as the result of the upcoming budget workshops......By the way, this budget plan is for the entire city, which includes the 2nd Ward......
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FAP 82p · 762 weeks ago

BTW the budget is only being introduced tomorrow. After introduction the council can make changes it deems fit. That means Ms.Mason will have ample opportunity to introduce all the budget cuts one imagines she's been sitting on for the last few years or not if the cuts she's been talking about don't actually exist.
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khoboken's avatar

khoboken · 762 weeks ago

She won't. She will complain about lack of "transparency" in the budget and how "this administration" has not given her all the "facts" to assess the budget. I am actually dying to hear what pearls of wisdom come from MIkey babe. Now that will be theater of the absurd.
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elec fraudberg's avatar

elec fraudberg · 762 weeks ago

My glass ball says Mason will say she cannot support a budget that places the citizen's of this city in danger, refuses to give back money that is rightfully that of the taxpayers and that this admin promised a 25% tax cut and hasn't attained it's goal,( even though she is claiming there is a 20mm surplus). Mason/Swibi speak for "I thiink you are all a bunch of idiots who have no idea what is really going on so I will insult your intelligence with unsubstantiated facts."

I can't wait for June. She has to go.
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khoboken's avatar

khoboken · 762 weeks ago

One thing that is certain is that whatever comes out of her mouth will be idiotic nonsense. Sad, in a away. I guess that is what blind political ambition does to someone.

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