UPDATED Dozens of Hoboken City Hall Employees Get Layoff Notices

HOBOKEN, NJ — A total of 79 municipal workers at Hoboken City Hall received layoff notices on Friday, according to a published report, although it's unknown how many will be laid off.

The notices came as the city works out its next municipal budget.

Hudson County View reported in the story on Monday that the city's budget shortfall could be $7 million or more.

City spokesman Vijay Chaudhury said later Monday, “Unfortunately, fixed costs including rising health care, pension, and previously negotiated union contracts have created a number of challenges for the city for the upcoming budget. Layoffs are a worst case scenario, and Mayor [Ravi] Bhalla and his administration continue to work around the clock to produce a budget with the City Council that reduces costs and keeps Hoboken fiscally sound for the long-term.”

Councilman Michael DeFusco, a sometime critic of Mayor Ravi Bhalla, responded with a letter saying, in part, "This is a byproduct of the Bhalla Administration’s estimated $7 to $14 million dollar budget deficit that has been snowballing since the mayor took office." He said the city should look at other ways to cut spending.

The matter will likely be broached during the next City Council meeting. Watch for a followup story on Hoboken Patch.