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THE BEVACQUA BRIEF
Hoboken Residents, Your Tax Bill Is About to Go Up — Here's What You Need to Know
June 2026
If you own property in Hoboken — or rent and worry your landlord will pass costs along — you've probably heard rumblings about a significant tax increase coming this year. Here's a plain-language breakdown of what's actually happening and what it means for your wallet.
The City Has a $17 Million Problem
Hoboken is facing a $17 million budget gap for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The main culprits? Rising mandatory costs like health insurance for city workers, police, and firefighters — expenses the city has been quietly covering by dipping into its savings for years. That well is now running dry.
Mayor Emily Jabbour has been upfront about the situation, acknowledging that tough decisions are unavoidable and that the city can no longer rely on surplus funds to paper over the gap.
What the Increase Actually Looks Like
Headlines screaming "20% tax hike" can be alarming, so let's put it in real terms.
The proposed increase applies only to the municipal portion of your property tax bill — which typically makes up about 25-30% of your total bill in Hoboken. After cost-cutting measures including a hiring freeze, renegotiated vendor contracts, and healthcare savings, the city has reduced the projected increase to under 19%. For the average Hoboken property owner, that translates to roughly $130 more per quarter compared to 2025.
Not pocket change — but not the apocalypse either.
Don't Forget the School Budget
Here's where it gets harder. Separate from the city's municipal budget, the Hoboken Board of Education approved a $104.8 million school budget with a 27% tax levy increase — driven by a $19.9 million jump in spending from the prior school year.
School taxes are a separate line on your property tax bill, and this increase is significant. Residents should expect their total property tax bills to reflect both increases when final numbers are certified later this summer.
What the City Is Doing to Soften the Blow
To its credit, the Jabbour administration hasn't just thrown up its hands. The city has:
Implemented a targeted hiring freeze
Cut and renegotiated consulting and vendor contracts
Found operational efficiencies across departments
Expanded use of grant and trust funds for eligible expenses
These steps collectively shaved about $3.1 million off the deficit — bringing the gap from $17 million down to roughly $13 million.
What You Should Do Now
Check your current assessment. If you believe your property is over-assessed, you have the right to appeal. Contact the Hoboken Tax Assessor's office for guidance.
Budget for the increase. With final budgets certified in late summer, expect higher bills in the fall.
Stay engaged. City Council meetings are streamed on Facebook and open to public comment. Your voice matters in this process.
Sources: Hoboken Girl, Patch, Hudson County View, City of Hoboken official announcements
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