Paterson avoids layoffs with city council approval of tax levy
PATERSON – In a 5-3 vote, the City Council late Tuesday night approved the mayor’s request for a preliminary tax levy, averting the threat of 250 layoffs and mandatory unpaid furloughs.
The approval reverses the council’s three previous rejections of the tax levy and will allow the city to begin issuing its August property tax bills so it doesn’t run out of money, officials said.
The six-week budget battle resulted in the early closing of Paterson’s 36 summer camps and almost forced the city’s municipal pools to shut down. The city is still planning to go ahead with the creation of a night-time traffic detail in the police department, an initiative that officials say will generate an extra $3 million in annual revenue through the issuance of an additional 30,000 tickets per year.
The pivotal vote on the tax levy was cast by newly-elected 5th Ward councilman, Luis Velez, who said he stayed up until 4 am the night before mulling the decision. Velez had previously opposed the mayor’s tax levy but said he switched his vote after meeting with city tax officials to discuss the impact of the fiscal plan on homeowners.
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