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

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…