JERSEY CITY, NJ —
June 30, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
Local resident Kevin Bing voices the dilemma many face as the city proposes a 15% tax hike while trimming programs like compost and VIA vans.
Kevin Bing is sitting at his kitchen table, calculator out, trying to figure out how to make the numbers work. He’s not a city official or a budget analyst. He’s a Jersey City resident who just saw his property tax bill could go up 16.2 percent next year. That’s a hard number to swallow, especially when you’re already squeezing every dollar.
Bing shared his thoughts in an op-ed for Hudson County View, and his frustration is something a lot of us feel right now. Mayor Steven Solomon is proposing a 15 percent increase to the municipal budget — down from an earlier 20 percent, after some adjustments. But it’s still a big jump, and it comes on top of school board and county tax hikes.
What’s Actually Happening
The city has a few ways to deal with this. One is cutting spending. The administration has already announced $1 million in cuts to parks, the end of the compost program, and the elimination of VIA — those cheap van trips that help people get across town without a car.
Another is relying on new state money. New Jersey’s budget includes a $15 million grant and a $120 million loan for Jersey City. That sounds like a lifeline, but the mayor had already counted on that money when he proposed the original 20 percent tax hike. So even with the state’s help, the city still needs more revenue.
How We Got Here
Jersey City’s budget crunch didn’t happen overnight. For years, the city relied on a growing tax base — new apartment towers and office buildings downtown — to keep residential taxes low. But that growth has slowed. Meanwhile, costs for everything from employee healthcare to road salt keep climbing.
The state’s own financial troubles play a role too. Trenton has been slow to approve new revenue streams for cities, like allowing speed cameras or expanding the tax base. And the pandemic-era federal aid that propped up many towns is drying up.
What This Means for Your Daily Life
For a family in Bergen-Lafayette or the Heights, these cuts hit close to home. Maybe you used the compost drop-off on Saturdays, or you relied on a VIA van to get your kid to an after-school program. Maybe you just liked knowing the parks would be clean and open this summer.
And the tax hike? That’s real too. For a homeowner with a property assessed at $400,000, a 15 percent municipal increase could mean an extra $400 to $600 a year — on top of the county and school increases. That’s a lot when you’re already paying for daycare, commuting into the city, and trying to save for college.
What People Are Saying
Bing is honest about the trade-offs. “I don’t like paying taxes, but I also don’t like these cuts,” he writes. He’s seen a lot of ideas on social media, but he says most aren’t realistic. “I haven’t heard a lot of well meaning voices with really good plans.”
He does have his own suggestions — like ticketing dangerous drivers with speed cameras and raising taxes through new development. But he admits those won’t fix this year’s budget. In the end, he says, “I don’t like the current plan – but it’s better than all the other ones out there. And in a democracy that’s the best you can expect.”
Mayor Solomon has defended the budget as a necessary step to maintain core services. His office says the cuts are painful but targeted, and that the tax hike is needed to avoid deeper damage down the road.
What Comes Next
The city council is expected to vote on the budget in the coming weeks. There will be public hearings where residents can speak up. If you want to weigh in, check the city’s website for meeting dates and times. Also watch for updates on the state loan — it still needs final approval from Trenton.
Bing’s column ends with a line from SimCity: “YOU CAN’T CUT BACK ON FUNDING! YOU WILL REGRET THIS!” It’s a funny reference, but the point is serious. Every choice the city makes now — tax hike or service cut — carries consequences. And the people of Jersey City will have to live with them, whether they’re at the kitchen table with a calculator or just trying to get the kids to school on time.
Source: Hudson County View
