Residents pressed the council about a steep tax bill; Mayor Gaines said an audit is recovering developer payments and that the overall average increase across jurisdictions is about 9.8%, while the city has recovered nearly $2 million so far and is pursuing roughly $5.4 million.

The Hackensack City Council voted unanimously June 30 to adopt ordinance 11‑2026, a financial agreement with Kgroup Hackensack Venture Urban Renewal LLC tied to a 100% affordable housing project that the planner said is needed to secure 9% tax credit funding.

Council adopted a broad consent agenda June 16 that included resolutions to apply for Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund grants for Sty Park projects, NJDOT Safe Streets to Transit and Local Aid Infrastructure grant applications for pedestrian safety projects, liquor‑license renewals and affordable‑housing trust fund spending plan changes.

On June 16 the council adopted Ordinance 09‑2026 (authorizing acquisition of 153–155 Main Street) and Ordinance 10‑2026 (amending rent stabilization board composition and applicability), and introduced Ordinance 11‑2026 establishing a financial agreement with Kgroup Venture Urban Renewal LLC for Hiler Street parcels; final passage for the introduced ordinance is set for June 30.

During a lengthy public‑comment period on June 16, city workers and residents pressed the council to resolve staffing shortages, aging and unsafe equipment, low pay and fears of retaliation within the Department of Public Works; council members acknowledged the concerns and said they would confer with the city manager.

At a May 5 public hearing on the 2026 municipal budget, officials cited a $900,000 Bergen County Utilities Authority rate increase, rising health benefits costs and prior pilot agreements as primary drivers of a 10.25% levy increase; council discussed budget practices and invited further public scrutiny.