The Jersey City Independent "

- The city budget is in dire shape, with huge deficits predicted, mandatory furloughs ordered and departmental budget cuts most likely up next. Even so, the administration has hired 53 full-time permanent city employees — mostly cops — since Mayor Healy was re-elected May 12.

- In better budget news, the city reportedly stands to save $965,970 in interest on a $27 million loan, with a little help from Hudson County. The county is taking advantage of its high bond rating to refinance several municipalities’ loans at lower rates.

- Nearly two and a half months after police officer Marc DiNardo’s death in the line of duty, his pension benefits from the state still haven’t kicked in for his family. MORE from the Journal.

- A 24-year-old Jersey City man has been convicted in connection to eight armed robberies of taverns, fast food restaurants and beauty salons.

- The Journal and the Reporter both have items on Tuesday’s meet-and-greet with independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett at the Embankment (234 10th St.). The event, which is being organized by Phil Rivo, begins at 7 pm.

- The Insider says the “mighty” Hudson County Democratic Organization “has fallen,” and the once-feared political machine “is in serious need of a blood transfusion.”

- One of City Hall’s two elevators hasn’t been working since 1979.

Today’s Best Bet:

- If you didn’t make it over to NJCU during the weekend’s studio tour, no worries. You can check out the official opening and reception for Richard Buntzen’s MFA thesis show, “Newsprint Collage,” today from 4:30-8 pm.

In statewide news:

- Gov. Corzine on Friday signed the Party Democracy Act, a piece of legislation pushed by the nonprofit Citizens’ Campaign that requires county political party committees to adopt constitutions and bylaws, calls for specific information concerning committee members to be filed with the county clerk and eliminates fixed terms for committee members and chairs.

- A record-bursting tide of property-tax appeals is inundating assessment offices all over the region, with appeal numbers double and triple what they were last year. The Times has more on the property tax issue.

- The health care debate has now entered the gubernatorial race, with the candidates sparring over whether to force insurance companies to cover screening tests like mammograms.

- The state Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission says it supports eliminating state pension and health care benefits for county tax board members and part-time employees.

- After evaluating various environmental studies, the Federal Transit Administration has issued a “finding of no significant impact” for the long-planned restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff commuter rail line from the Poconos to Hoboken. Officials say this is one major environmental hurdle now cleared.

- Public hearings will start this week on a proposed restructuring of the U.S. Postal Service’s North Jersey mail distribution system, which could affect mail facilities in Hanover, Newark, Kearny, Teterboro and Trenton.

- With the state’s economy reeling and Goldman Sachs’ luster dulled, the Times reports that once was Gov. Corzine’s greatest asset — his Wall Street background — has become a political liability.

- The coalition of Latino Clergy of New Jersey has endorsed Gov. Corzine in the gubernatorial race.

- The U.S. Agriculture Department expects New Jersey to produce 54 million pounds of cranberries this year; more than 5 percent more than last year. The bump in production is due to the wet summer.

- The hyperlocal news website TheAlternativePress.com, which covers ten towns in New Jersey, celebrated its 1st anniversary last week. Congrats!

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