HOBOKEN, N.J. — Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher is calling on Mayor Ravi Bhalla to immediately release Hoboken’s proposed 2025 municipal budget to the City Council—before any additional large-scale spending proposals are considered—and to begin the long-overdue public review and adoption process. As of the April 2 City Council meeting, the budget had not been transmitted to the Council or placed on the agenda. Fisher introduced a resolution Wednesday night — co-sponsored by Councilman Paul Presinzano — urging the administration to submit the budget without further delay.

“The budget is how we plan for Hoboken’s future and protect taxpayers today,” said Fisher. “It’s how we evaluate priorities, understand tradeoffs, and deliver the services our residents depend on. The longer the delay, the less time we have to do this responsibly.”

Under the 2025 state timeline, mayors of Faulkner Act municipalities like Hoboken were required to deliver their proposed budgets to the City Council by Feb. 28. The Council was expected to introduce the budget by March 31, setting up a public review process and final vote by April 30. Because the budget still hasn’t been delivered or placed on an agenda, it is now impossible to meet the April 30 adoption deadline.

While the state may offer flexibility in urgent situations, Fisher emphasized that this is not one of them. The greater issue, she said, is the lack of transparency and the reduced opportunity for the Council and public to evaluate the city’s financial position before new commitments are made.

“Instead of introducing the budget on time, Mayor Bhalla has repeatedly asked the City Council to approve significant, long-term cost proposals that could raise taxes for the next eight years,” said Fisher. “Before we consider anything of that magnitude, we need to see the budget, evaluate its assumptions, and understand how it affects our community.”

Fisher also pointed to Hoboken’s AA+ bond rating as a growing concern. “That rating is already on shaky ground due to rising debt levels under this mayor,” she said. “A stable, sustainable budget is the only meaningful offset to this issue.”

She added that the budget is reportedly complete but still sitting with the mayor. “Based on how this administration has timed announcements in the past, I have to question whether the budget will be released before the June primary the mayor is running in,” said Fisher. “Whether that’s the intention or not, Hoboken residents deserve transparency and responsible budgeting—especially in a year when the mayor isn’t seeking re-election and won’t be the one held accountable for the financial decisions being made today.”

The resolution calls for the administration to act immediately and reaffirms the City Council’s commitment to delivering a responsible and transparent budget process that puts the needs of Hoboken taxpayers first.

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Councilwoman Fisher brings over 20 years of experience in finance to her role on the City Council, where she has consistently fought for Hoboken taxpayers by demanding responsible budgeting and reducing wasteful spending. Over her nine years on the Council, she has led the effort—always taking a deeper dive into the numbers than anyone else—to amend and scale back Mayor Bhalla’s proposed, above-average tax increases. By building consensus with her colleagues, she has delivered more than $15 million in meaningful tax savings for Hoboken residents. She has also served four times as chair of the Council’s Finance and Revenue Committee.