Hoboken City Council approves contract increases for police outside employment rates

The Hoboken City Council meeting on April 16, 2025, was marked by significant discussions surrounding police employment contracts and budgetary concerns. A key highlight was the proposed increase in outside employment rates for police officers, which has raised eyebrows among council members due to its potential financial impact on taxpayers.

Councilman Fisher voiced strong opposition to the new rates, which would see the hourly pay for police officers working outside jobs rise from $80 to $100, with time-and-a-half rates increasing from $120 to $150. For non-city projects, the starting rate would jump to $145 per hour. Fisher emphasized that these rates are substantially higher than those in surrounding areas, including Jersey City, where rates are nearly half as much. He argued that the increases, approved in a previous contract for rank-and-file officers, could lead to financial strain on the city’s budget, especially as Hoboken faces a hiring freeze and other fiscal challenges.

Fisher urged his colleagues to reconsider the contract and delay approval of the superior officers' contract until a comprehensive budget review could be conducted. He expressed concern over the lack of financial analysis accompanying the contract negotiations, stating, “We should look at the entire superior contract next... Let’s not do this leveling up piecemeal.”

In addition to the police contract discussions, the council also approved a resolution awarding a contract for the installation of a press box at Grama Johnson Field, funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. This project, which has faced delays in the past, is expected to begin installation this fall.

As the council navigates these pressing issues, the implications of the police contract and budgetary decisions will be closely watched by Hoboken residents, who are keenly aware of how these financial commitments will affect their community.