The City Council introduced a budget with a $190 million tax levy—up $40 million from last year—at the January 13 meeting.

The budget comes on the heels of $14 million in municipal aid approved from the Local Finance Board in Trenton.

Elected officials said more cuts would be necessary. Otherwise, taxpayers would shoulder an $800 tax increase on a home assessed at $100,000.

“It’s not going to be easy,” said Council President Peter Brennan, referring to additional cuts before a final budget is approved. “We’re in rough times. We have to keep the faith.”

Councilwoman Viola Richardson “reluctantly” voted “yes.” Councilman Stephen Fulop criticized Councilman David Donnelly for “rubber stamping” a budget with a tax increase.

Councilman Mike Sottolano called the budget a “work in progress.”

“There’s still more reductions of about $5-6 million needed,” he said.

Joseph Krajnik, the President of the Uniform Firefighters Association of Jersey City Local 1066 said he hoped that there would be no cuts to the 16 fire stations and 390 firefighters who staff them. He said the city lost 180 firefighters due to budget cuts in the past.

“We’ve done a tremendous job with less…less supervisors, less apparatus, less equipment,” he said.

Brennan said the council would submit grant applications for 80 firefighters.

“The Jersey City Fire Department is one of the best in the state,” he noted.