Jersey City council members at Monday’s caucus sharply questioned a proposed ordinance that would consolidate multiple capital improvement accounts into eight broader categories, saying the change risks removing legally earmarked protections for specific projects.

Finance staff explained the measure does not create new funding but would permit the administration to move money within broader categories for emergency repairs or budget shortfalls without returning repeatedly to the council for repurposing. The finance director said active projects remain encumbered and that the reorganization is intended to reduce delays when unforeseen costs arise.

Several councilmembers pushed back, naming projects they say could lose protection if funds are moved (including Reservoir 3, Arlington Park and the Holiday Street Firehouse). One member said the change “circumvents” the council’s existing check-and-balance processes and urged tabling the ordinance for further review. Finance responded that work already under way is covered by encumbrances and that park-improvement and sustainability pools ($5,000,000 and $4,000,000, respectively, in staff examples) would still permit work on those uses citywide.

The discussion focused on preserving project-level accountability while allowing the administration flexibility to respond to urgent needs. No formal vote on the ordinance was recorded in caucus; councilmembers suggested additional briefings and possible amendments before the item appears on the public agenda.