This week Patersonians, at least the number of them we spoke to, received their overdue tax bills, which has gone up by an estimate of $300 according Anthony Zambrano, the finance director for the city.

During the council discussion last week Mr Zambrano was put on the spot by elected officials which eventually resulted in him plainly stating the tax increase instead of dressing it in the garb of technical babble as is his wont.

On Tuesday of last week council members voted to approve the final budget inside of which was the tax increase — every member of the council voted for the increase save Andre Sayegh, the 6th Ward councilman, who said: after hearing from one of his constituents who was going through hard financial times, he simply could not bring himself to vote for a tax increase.

Everyone else voted for the increase, including Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman, the 2nd Ward councilman, who made his way into the office by organizing anti-tax protests.

Because the tax bills were mailed late — tax bills often go out in February — Patersonians will be getting another tax bill for the 2nd quarter of 2013 in April.