Hudson County officials are asking the state attorney general’s office to investigate possible malfeasance at the Hudson County Schools of Technology after an internal probe revealed significant problems with the school’s finances — more bad news for North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco’s rapidly dwindling influence in county government.
Hudson is seeking an emergency $11 million in state funding to plug an operating deficit to avoid layoffs, program reductions, and school consolidation.
The investigation uncovered structural budget problems stemming from labor contracts negotiated during periods of budget surpluses that were kept out of the board’s sight. Fiscal woes also stem from rising health insurance costs that led to the school’s exit from the New Jersey State Health Benefits Plan.
“The current County Administration has made substantial changes to the management of the HCST since its start in 2024 – both in board membership and in administration,” said County Executive Craig Guy in a memo also signed by the board president, John Minella, and the new superintendent, Tom Macagnano. “We are also charging the current leadership at HCST with making tough choices for the coming budget year while still maintaining the level of education our students deserve.”
The Hudson County Schools of Technology has been an adjacent operation of Sacco’s political organization for years, but some of his key people have been removed from the county vocational school board, including North Bergen Mayor Hugo Cabrera. That leaves just Hector Zulueta as the lone Sacco vote.
Last year, Sacco ally Joseph Muniz departed his longtime positions as board secretary and purchasing agent. The former superintendent, Amy Lin-Rodriguez, has accepted a demotion to a school principal post.
The patronage system used by Sacco at the schools was described as a “culture of entitlement.”
The fiscal woes at the vocational schools come as Hudson County Democrats are preparing for possible primaries in several county commissioner districts next year, when all nine seats are on the ballot.
Guy laid out a series of corrective measures, including spending and hiring freezes, and increased scrutiny of extended leaves for some full-time employees.
