Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clifton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
6 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Charter study ballot question
A resident argued the council's 2025 rejection of a charter study question blocked residents from deciding Clifton's form of government, and said the current structure dates back nearly a century. He urged candidates to support putting the question to voters.
Grants program and historic City Hall preservation
Triad Associates has stabilized 60 active grants worth $47 million, recovered nearly $580,000 in drawdowns, and proposed a $2,000-$2,500 baseline assessment to pursue state historic trust funding for the City Hall complex and barns.
PILOT Agreements and Revenue Sharing
Kolodziej noted 10 of Clifton's 13 PILOTs now share revenue based on gross revenue; Latona celebrated the first revenue-sharing PILOT and wants community-service requirements in future deals. A council candidate pitched expanding the commercial tax base to ease homeowner burdens.
CDBG PY2026 Action Plan and budget amendments
Three public hearings covered the city's federal community development plan and budget transfers; no residents spoke, and the plan and amendments were adopted by resolution.
Affordable housing litigation costs
The council added $10,000 to its legal budget for the firm handling the city's affordable housing fight, doubling the contract to $30,000.
PILOT programs and hotel/On3 revenue sharing
Council candidate Assad Mujtaba warned PILOTs delay revenue for decades; Kolodziej countered they do not. A proposed PILOT with revenue sharing for the hotel and On3 campus was discussed in closed session.