[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6474085,"mediaKeyId","5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f","parentId",5742628,"title","Paterson council votes to introduce 2025 budget; adopts cap-bank and tax-reserve measures amid sharp debate","audioSeconds",2077,"startMs",322000,"endMs",2399000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f&start=322&end=2399","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f/thumbnail_322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6474085/Paterson/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Paterson-council-votes-to-introduce-2025-budget-adopts-cap-bank-and-tax-reserve-measures-amid-sharp-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474085-1b45e5376b4dabd9983932683cbe2b53/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993179&Signature=kBdUF06ICWXlO9BmvgoVu4VZO7fSttzyNVbBHzfaQcAmVM2nqmtUkl4wUMIcF04nv0LF8-V8J9Zu-y~atFk1dFYvXshnS0dVUA8TJSlLOTIaZitCPSAFjxrvD~u5JNxvlXt3IH3TArWVz007AYMzYusvvrEdqVbPb5uJfLsQ6UPeGQ1J7yN45~3goPfUgxts6awddeDEuv-IXnSFEVtYoneFO7mKCI-OwNJCegGumGsxZL9t4cSVQ5pz9UnsoFA70gmbMkTcBmBTfB662YV7q10WW28m1vovVcDIvy0v0bQpHiLv3C0~W~ht66NbdFdrsJ9A~A1SlNmA4YiefhOpAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Paterson","date","2025-09-10T03:41:03Z","article","The Paterson Municipal Council on Sept. 9 voted to introduce the calendar-year 2025 municipal budget at an introduction level of 3.5 percent, while also approving related finance steps intended to protect the city from a larger levy increase.

Council members spent the meeting's longest stretch debating the budget's timing and documentation. Several council members, most prominently Councilman Michael Jackson, criticized the administration for scheduling a 5:30 p.m. special meeting and for distributing key budget documents late, saying the public and some council members had inadequate time to review details. Jackson and others said they had not received full budget material in the main packet before the vote and pressed Administration for line-item explanations of cuts and hiring freezes.

Administration officials and some council members said the 3.5 percent introduction reflects negotiations with the Division of Local Government Services (DCA) and adjustments including hiring freezes and a planned use of up to $1 million from reserves to establish a cap bank that reduces the immediate levy increase from an earlier 5.6 percent figure.

Council President Lisonbee Mims told colleagues she and staff had discussed the reserve language with DCA and the city's auditors and that the introduction was required by state deadlines; she said the introduction does not constitute final adoption and that the council and administration would continue work toward a lower final increase.

Votes at a glance
- Introduction of the 2025 municipal budget (administration resolution 25426): Motion moved by Council President Mims, seconded by Councilwoman Davila; council approved introduction (the council recorded individual yea/nay votes during roll call and the introduction was adopted for the record). The introduction sets the budget for further review and does not enact the final tax levy.

- Ordinance to exceed municipal appropriation limits and establish a cap bank (first reading, NJSA 40A:4-45): Adopted on first reading; roll-call result recorded by the clerk: 5 in favor, 3 against, 1 absent. The ordinance would create capacity to bank up to the requested cap allowance pending final adoption.

- Resolution increasing the percentage reserve for uncollected taxes (finance resolution 25:427): Adopted (as recorded on the roll call); the clerk announced the votes as 8 in favor, 1 against. The resolution is intended to allow the city's presentation to the local finance board and to compute required reserve levels.

- Application to the local finance board to move $780,000 from inside the cap to outside the cap (NJSA 40A:4-45.3(e); finance resolution 25:430): Council voted to file the application; the clerk recorded the adoption as 7 in favor, 1 against, 1 absent. Administration said the move would keep the budget under the state's 2.5% cap law; CFO and council members questioned the rationale and long-term effect.

Why it matters
The council's introduction of the budget allows the city to meet state deadlines that, if missed, could lead to more severe levy increases or service disruptions. But the wide-ranging critique from several council members about late dissemination of documents and limited public visibility turned the meeting into a flashpoint over transparency and fiscal management.

What councilmembers and staff said
'This is the third time this budget has been introduced,' Council President Mims said, noting earlier failed introductions and work with DCA and auditors to reduce an earlier 5.6% figure.

'The public is entitled to understand exactly where these changes came from,' Councilman Jackson said, accusing administration of sending the full budget too late and of asking the council to 'rubber-stamp' the introduction without adequate review.

'We are introducing the 2025 budget tonight. It is a 3.5% increase,' the Business Administrator told the council, describing staff efforts to freeze hires and to use reserves to establish a cap bank.

Context and next steps
Introduction is not final adoption. Council members and administration repeatedly said the work would continue through committee sessions and with the city's auditors and DCA. Council leaders encouraged colleagues to submit specific line-item questions and to participate in finance committee meetings before a final adoption vote, currently expected in the fall.

Ending
Council members who opposed the introduction said they would continue pushing for a lower final increase and for clearer line-item reporting. Administration officials said they would provide additional materials and expected further revisions before the adoption vote.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Paterson, NJ - Municipal Special & Council Workshop Meeting, September 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Paterson Municipal Council on Sept. 9 voted to introduce the calendar-year 2025 municipal budget at a 3.5% levy increase amid sharp debate about timing and transparency, and approved related finance measures including a cap-bank ordinance (first reading) and a change in reserve calculations.","taxTitle","Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey","taxId",2754,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474075,"Students and residents defend PCCC sociology professor after council criticism",0,8341000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f&start=8341&end=8341","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f/thumbnail_8341000.jpg","/articles/6474075/Paterson/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Students-and-residents-defend-PCCC-sociology-professor-after-council-criticism","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474075-90a160f3b85b3f5d20b844942040eb4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993179&Signature=bEl~5Hw1QjgngkTvp0LEpWlGsDPs0yYwW4-TtyKQk4deo8APz-1l7-c3HQWX08ctWPPEAPKp34gO0zKsdlpaCSVj5140xv71tPO4XCB8KUFoWZ9ES5~u3XEnK8A0~c66UNTfLtOY57YS85U1GLVUz3JF~seQkszXQv9l9LfjV3hmYBbr85sgrsi7QL0F4POZ46qE3kyqAeDz5VRHgedHvIkUGZRUNges4o405rSnINREH8Fs~TdFONyGQUcu7OyIqnmR-dlEFGOWGC2Z3vczDuowuebR~X5juRJNk-jHkx~iT894IKpV1KdqVwYiH20jCfS1CZstb6JVyejciYv2Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of students and community members used the Sept. 9 public comment period to defend Passaic County Community College sociology instructor Joel Keyes after a council member said he had received complaints about the professor's classroom approach.

Three students spoke directly from the podium, praising Keyes's classes as 'challenging but rewarding' and saying his courses encourage critical thinking about politics, identity and social systems. One student said she benefited from class discussions that helped her articulate her background and community issues.

Several speakers said they had been surprised and upset by an earlier council remark that referenced unspecified parental complaints about how the professor teaches issues ''regarding us.' Students and alumni said Keyes fosters an open classroom where controversial topics are discussed and that they felt welcomed and supported.

Council reaction and context
Council members replied from the dais: some reiterated that a complaint channel exists and that council members sometimes receive third-party information. Council President Mims urged residents to submit specific, documented concerns if they exist and said the council does not itself manage college personnel decisions.

Why it matters
The exchange highlighted tensions when local elected bodies address issues involving independent institutions such as community colleges. Speakers said they attended the meeting specifically to defend a teacher they said had a positive impact on their education.

Ending
Council members encouraged anyone with formal complaints to use the college's complaint processes and said individual council members could help connect constituents to the appropriate channels.

","Multiple Passaic County Community College students and residents used the council's public-comment period to defend Professor Joel Keyes after a council member said he had received complaints about the professor's classroom approach. Speakers described Keyes as an engaged, challenging instructor and called for evidence before public criticism.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6474080,"Paterson council moves Urban Enterprise Zone five-year plan to regular meeting after questions on outreach and budget",5013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f&start=5013&end=5013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5742628-4bd925463c526a2898450795be40103f/thumbnail_5013000.jpg","/articles/6474080/Paterson/Passaic-County/New-Jersey/Paterson-council-moves-Urban-Enterprise-Zone-five-year-plan-to-regular-meeting-after-questions-on-outreach-and-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474080-2a3e10d111ba520f4ec5af1ba5c29b55/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993179&Signature=ZCp3WemnwulnIs6LgfXQN5H69D3Bo6B0a4sfNh9pFdvQGJLVjk-sa~7-JkDqChz2abYEmj~hI~9Im740DY0LP-0YtxW3zY~Lpo9Tw2599Ye0KgiT2L6i4SnMGBgmLQSu2c74qEbwI2O0sXrKp2cCUesfPCtb4pJNKatOVHwnNNw3smHv6hTpkJCSVEi2CActPu76sfQnji5M0NJr2A6xvWlXEDqrdIdKCIO3oA3swkjj9Ntz9YnAUFd6yeS2eEYXSsFNqi3p66jN82ifsNPjTN1yeRl3b2i3mrUvqgusydVJqbBputF~v2GCdVF0-xEeYlUw5taX3TMCcp8IRk8OSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Paterson Municipal Council on Sept. 9 received a presentation of a draft five-year strategic plan for the city's Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) and voted to place the resolution authorizing transmission of the plan to the state on the regular-meeting agenda for additional review.

The plan was prepared by consultant CME Associates under contract to the city; the consultant and the UEZ director described a process of background analysis, public and business surveys and a small number of business-focused forums. Council members questioned the depth of business outreach and the plan's financial detail.

UEZ director and consultant remarks
UEZ Director Roy (title given in meeting) said the plan is required by the state for municipalities that want continued UEZ allocations and that the document sets a five-year strategy, projects and goals. CME Associates' project manager described demographic, economic and community-engagement work and said appendices include survey responses and a business participant list.

Council concerns
Council members raised three recurring concerns: (1) limited business participation in direct engagement (council members noted the plan lists a modest number of businesses who took part in meetings), (2) lack of a clear accounting of remaining UEZ funds and how previous allocations were spent, and (3) consultant cost and capacity. Council members asked for a fuller list of the businesses engaged and for a ledger of previous UEZ spending.

Contract and staffing details
During questioning council members cited the consultant contract maximum (the consultant was described as retained up to $123,000 in the meeting record) and asked about the UEZ director's budget and staffing; the director answered that the director's salary appears in the budget and said the plan would be accompanied by a request for further details about UEZ balances. Council members requested those figures before a final vote.

Council action
Rather than adopt the resolution on Sept. 9, the council agreed to move the item to the regular meeting for additional materials and for the council to review business outreach lists and UEZ account balances.

Why it matters
UEZ funds are a direct state-local program intended to support small-business incentives, fa\u0000e7ade improvements, job creation and other local economic development measures. The state has asked municipalities to prepare five-year plans to justify continuing or expanding allocations; a plan approved by the council and accepted by the state unlocks additional program funding and project eligibility.

What to watch next
Council members asked the UEZ director and administration to provide a list of businesses contacted or participating in engagement, to provide a current balance of UEZ funds and to explain the scope and cost of the consultant contract. The item was placed on the council's regular agenda for a follow-up vote.

Ending
Council members said they want the plan to include clearer links to specific small-business programs and to show where money would be spent if the state approves additional allocations; the council deferred a final decision until it had those details.

","City staff and a consultant presented a 5-year strategic plan for Paterson's Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). Several council members pressed the director and consultant for details about business outreach, remaining UEZ funds and the consultant contract; the council voted to send the plan to the regular meeting for further review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Paterson council votes to introduce 2025 budget; adopts cap-bank and tax-reserve measures amid sharp debate

Students and residents defend PCCC sociology professor after council criticism

Paterson council moves Urban Enterprise Zone five-year plan to regular meeting after questions on outreach and budget