Dear Editor:

As most Hoboken residents are aware, the City Council was presented with a fully funded, balanced 2005 municipal budget on September 15 of last year. This budget maintains the same standard of Municipal services with no tax increase.

A minority coalition of four Council members has refused to accept this budget, in an attempt to cause fiscal and political chaos in a Mayoral election year. Additionally, this minority coalition voted against an emergency appropriation that would prevent a disruption in the delivery of essential City services for all residents.

I firmly stand behind this budget, as does the Department of Community Affairs whose commissioners unanimously approved all aspects of this spending plan. Moreover, in a correspondence from the State DCA this past week, "the Council members of the City of Hoboken are hereby ordered... to adopt a temporary emergency appropriation" or face daily personal monetary sanctions.

I would like to thank Council members Christopher Campos, Michael Cricco, Richard Del Boccio, Nino Giacchi and Ruben Ramos, Jr. for their firm support of my budget. They are looking after the interests of all Hoboken residents and working to ensure our community's financial integrity.

As a result of the breach of fiduciary duties by the minority coalition, Your Second Quarter tax bill is no longer applicable based on the Council's failure to adopt the budget. Issuance of your tax bill is based on budget passage. The bills were sent out with the understanding that the budget would be adopted and a tax rate struck. Obviously that was not the case and the Council's inaction could result in a higher tax rate.

It is sad that political maneuvering by a minority Council coalition threatens the quality of life and fiscal integrity of our community, especially when my proposed budget calls for no service cuts or tax increase and has been sanctioned by the State of New Jersey. The Council has had my budget since September 15th and the minority Council coalition has offered no input, except to dismiss a dance instructor for senior citizens. Now is the time to act.

Mayor David Roberts