They are words no taxpayer ever wants to hear: tax hikes. But that’s exactly what could be coming to residents of New Jersey’s second largest city, as the mayor tries to fill a massive budget gap. Jersey City Mayor James Solomon is proposing a 20% property tax increase as the city confronts w hat he calls the worst fiscal crisis in its history, citing a $255 million budget deficit he says was left behind by the previous administration. Solomon announced the proposal on social media and said he plans to present it to the city council this week. The increase would affect property owners across Jersey City as officials work to close a budget gap that the mayor said represents roughly 28% of the city’s total budget. “This week, I’ll put forth before the city council a 20% property tax increase, which will impact working class families across the city. And I know that it is painful to hear,” Solomon said. According to Solomon, the deficit was discovered after he took office in January. “When I took office in January, my team uncovered a $255 million deficit — roughly 28% of the entire city budget left behind by the prior administration,” Solomon said. “The bottom line: The last mayor paid for our bills on the city’s credit card and we are stuck with the bill.” Former Mayor Steven Fulop rejected Solomon’s characterization of the city’s finances. In a statement, Fulop said: “We obviously disagree. Had I chosen to run for re-election, we would have introduced another budget with no tax increase for Jersey City residents as we did nearly every year. It’s also worth nothing that James served on the City Council for eight years with full budget responsibilities.” The statement goes on to say: “This is James playing politics.” While the idea of increased property taxes won’t be popular, Mayor Solomon said more needs to be done to close the gap, so he’s appealing to lawmakers in Trenton. He’s looking for approximately $120 million in assistance from the state. “Is it going to be uncomfortable for households on the edge? Absolutely,” said political strategist Marc Pfeiffer, who spent nearly four decades working in New Jersey politics and served on a transition team for the incoming administration. When asked how much Jersey City’s situation differs from New York City’s recently closed budget gap, Pfeiffer said the two are completely different things. “They are not comparable in any way shape or form. The only comparability they have is they’re separated by a river,” said Pfeiffer. “But the structure of the cities, the politics of the cities, the size of the cities — completely different. It’s not even apples and oranges, it’s cookies and vegetables.” Solomon also announced he will take a $1 salary while the city addresses its financial challenges. The mayor is expected to present the proposal to the City Council in July, with the city aiming to move forward with the plan in August. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less