Newark City Council introduces $769M budget for 2011; property taxes to rise 6 percent!

The Newark City Council introduced the proposed 2011 city budget today by a vote of 5 to 4. The $769 million spending plan calls for $584 million in municipal appropriations and a 6 percent property tax hike over last year. The budget, which the council rejected two weeks ago, has a deficit of $57.5 million. Over the next month the city will try to find more revenue, as well as negotiate with the state to find ways to fill the gap. Council members Mildred Crump, Carlos Gonzalez, Ronald C. Rice, Darrin Sharif and Council President Donald Payne Jr. voted to introduce. Council members Augusto Amador, Ras Baraka, Luis Quintana and Anibal Ramos voted against the measure.The first public hearing on the budget was scheduled for Sept. 8.