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Tom DeGise in September 2013 (Photo: Ashlee Espinal)

(Jersey Journal file photo)

Hudson County plans to introduce a $512.1 million 2014 budget proposal tomorrow night that comes with a nearly 4 percent tax hike.

Hoboken and Jersey City are getting socked with the highest hikes, with Hoboken set to pay $8 million more this year and Jersey City about $6 million more. Four more municipalities are getting much smaller hikes, while the six remaining would see county tax cuts if the budget is adopted.

In a statement, County Executive Tom DeGise called the spending plan “a sensible budget that relies on good practices and conservative estimates.

“As in past years, we present a plan that avoids gimmicks and reflects an effort to fund critical needs while holding the line on key budget drivers such as wages,” he said.

The spending plan will be presented at tomorrow night’s freeholders meeting.

Asked to explain the county’s tax increase, county spokesman Jim Kennelly cited $1.8 million in new debt for the Hudson County Community College library, under construction in Journal Square; $1.7 million in permanent debt for the Koppers Koke site; and $1.1 million because of a new law requiring cost of living increases for county contractors.

Kennelly also said that county salaries went up “slightly,” adding that the county did not lay off any workers this year.

Freeholder Bill O'Dea objects to the county's assertion about the cost-of-living increases, with O'Dea saying they added less than $50,000 to this year's budget, not $1.1 million.

Hoboken and Jersey City residents are seeing a large spike because their wealth is higher compared to the rest of the county, Kennelly said.

For Hoboken residents, the county’s proposed tax hike would amount to $378 more on a house with an average assessment (post-tax reval) of $522,340. And that’s too much, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said.

“Over the last four years, the city of Hoboken has evaluated every department and implemented cost saving measures to ensure that services are provided as cost effectively as possible,” Zimmer said in an email. “It is time for the county to do the same.”

Jersey City’s hike would amount to about $100 for a homeowner with an average $93,000 assessment. City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill declined to comment, saying city officials had not seen the county’s budget proposal.

East Newark, Harrison, Kearny and Weehawken would see small increases under the proposed budget, while Bayonne, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City and West New York would see tax decreases.

The freeholders board meets tomorrow at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Hudson County Administration Building annex, 567 Pavonia Ave.