Newark City Budget Gets Final Approval After September Hearings

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark City Council gave unanimous approval to the municipal budget during a special meeting this week.

The city’s spending plan got a final thumbs-up on Tuesday (watch the video below). The estimated tax increase is roughly $100 for a home with an assessed value of $182,436, according to prior reports. Download or view the budget proposal at the bottom of this article. Read More: Proposed Newark City Budget Would Mean Tax Increase For Homeowners

During Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Patrick Council thanked the administration for working out a “balanced and sufficient” spending plan for the remainder of the year.

“It is our hope and due diligence that we can jump on top of everything that lies ahead of us in this 2023 year, and be in front and really proactive about our talks and conversation about right-sizing the administration, as well as another efficient and satisfactory budget for the people of the city,” Council said.

Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. also thanked the city’s department heads for appearing at a series of budget hearings held this month. Those hearings can be viewed here, here and here.

But Ramos added that approving the municipal budget so late in the calendar year doesn’t give the council a lot of oversight flexibility.

“I’m hopeful that moving forward – as we kind of say the same thing every year – that we have a better opportunity come 2023 to begin this process a little bit earlier,” Ramos said.

Council President LaMonica McIver echoed the councilman’s comments about getting the budget process started earlier next year.

“I'm hopeful and optimistic that next year, we will be able to get the budget earlier … be able to really work through it in detail and have more time to comb through some of the things that we talked about this year, as we prepare for some heavy lifting, as Councilman Council mentioned, for next budget period – especially as it relates to benefits,” McIver said.

Property taxes in New Jersey are made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Local voters overwhelmingly approved the Newark Public School District’s annual budget earlier this year. The $1.2 billion budget will raise spending by $146 million. There will be an $8.75 decrease for the average home with an assessed value of $175,000, according to figures presented by the board. Read More: No Tax Increase In Massive Newark School Budget (What To Know)

The total average residential property tax in Newark in 2021 was $6,811 for a home valued at $182,436. That was a $21 increase from 2020 – a difference of 0.31 percent.

• See related article: Average Property Tax Bill In Newark Ranks Among Lowest In NJ
• See related article: Tax Gap In Essex County; Many Wealthier Towns Pay Lower Rates

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