Camden's first tax increase in 10 years could restore 30 to 35 police jobs Watch video
CAMDEN — A handful of Camden police officers who lost their jobs to budget cuts this month may get their jobs back — but not without costing city taxpayers.
The New Jersey Local Finance Board approved a waiver to the city’s 3-percent tax cap Friday, allowing Camden to raise municipal property taxes 23 percent, city officials said today.
That $4 million infusion into the city’s budget would allow for the rehiring of 30 to 35 police officers and eight to 10 firefighters, said city spokesman Robert Corrales, who emphasized a number has not been set.
Budget woes forced 168 police officers and 67 firefighters to be shown the door Jan. 18, leaving one of the country’s most impoverished and crime-ridden cities with just 200 officers. Other New Jersey cities also have experienced cutbacks in public-safety personnel, but none on as wide a scale as Camden.
A year ago, the state transferred some oversight over Camden back to the city after seven years of state control and implemented a 3-percent tax cap. The waiver granted Friday by the finance board, which is part of the state Department of Community Affairs, allows the city to exceed it.
Camden taxpayers haven’t seen a tax hike for more than 10 years. Corrales said Mayor Dana Redd "has been working nonstop to find solutions."
"We’re trying to be fiscally responsible and wean ourselves off state aid," he said. "The state aid isn’t always going to be there."
Redd’s chief of staff, Novella Starks Hinson, said the city is also looking into sharing services with the school district, such as combining recreation and IT departments, to cut costs.
Union leaders and the city had not spoken as of this afternoon, but John Williamson, president of local 1 of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, said he looks forward to working with the city to put officers back on the street.
"Anything that the city does to bring back police officers is good in my book," he said.
Staff writer Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
Previous coverage:
• Camden police union rejects concession deal that could bring back 100 laid-off officers
• Camden struggles with lack of manpower due to police, firefighter layoffs
• Mass police, firefighter layoffs begin in Camden
• Guardian Angels to send members to Camden in light of police layoffs
• Large cuts in staff for Camden, Newark police could threaten anti-crime progress