Gov. Phil Murphy (D) introduced his ninth and final budget, totaling approximately $58.1 billion, which includes several new taxes and funding for popular programs as it heads to the state legislature for review.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“From the farms of Cumberland County to the streets of Jersey City, far too many New Jerseyans are living with deep uncertainty — and anxiety — about their economic future,” Murphy said early on in his roughly 75-minute speech.
“Whether it be the skyrocketing cost of eggs, or a housing market that is hotter than ever, our state’s working- and middle-class families are worried — on a fundamental level — about being able to make their future in the Garden State … We all know well, right now, the single-biggest challenge facing the people of New Jersey is that the cost of living is way too high.”
Nonetheless, he promised record high tax relief to applause inside the statehouse and the governor continued that the average family will see $1,500 in property tax relief this year.
Murphy said they restored property tax relief for tenants as well.
“Back in 2018, the average, eligible homeowner in New Jersey received $246 in property tax relief. This year, that average tax relief payment will be over $1,500 — a more than 500% increase in just seven years,” he exclaimed.
“And, in partnership with everyone in this chamber, we have also provided historic relief to our state’s renters by restoring — for the first time in a very long time — property tax relief for tenants all across New Jersey.”
Murphy also noted that the statewide spending plan has a new sales tax exemption on cribs and other baby supplies, as well as reforming zoning and permitting laws to create more affordable housing.
“These legislative reforms are crucial to stabilizing the costs of housing in the years to come,” Murphy said.
He later pledged said no school district will receive steep cuts any longer, as well as make full day pre-K a reality statewide.
” … Our budget will help parents with young children save even more money by providing new funding to make free, full-day pre-K a reality in communities all across the Garden State,” he declared.
“Under our Administration, we have already created nearly 20,000 new classroom seats for our state’s youngest learners.”
He also talked about increasing funding for NJ Transit, which could receive up to $815 million from the corporate transit fee, as well as the Portal Bridge North in Kearny, both of which will aid commuters.
“Just last year, with the help of our federal partners, the amount of funding we provided to NJ Transit for new capital projects was nearly double what it was when I first entered office,” Murphy stated.
“This funding supports everything from building new bridges — like the Portal North Bridge, which will be a game-changer for tens of thousands of commuters — to rebuilding train stations and modernizing our fleet of rail cars and buses.”
He further stated that the budget will have an over $6.3 billion surplus, make full payments into the state pension for the fifth year in a row, a federal funding freeze could have a dire impact on New Jersey.
“I have every intention of working in good faith with the Trump Administration to better the lives of the people we serve,” Murphy stated.
“But just as important if this Administration tries to attack our most vulnerable neighbors, I will never back down from defending their rights and freedoms,” he declared to applause.
Murphy also said he would defend the LGBTQ plus community to applause.
“I will never back down from defending civil rights or the rights of educators to teach the full truth of our history. I will never back down from defending our immigrant families!” he exclaimed.
Murphy said he would also defend police officers “instead of pardoning the violent mob that assaulted them!”
The governor also vowed to protect women’s reproductive rights, continue to fund the ARRIVE Together program, as well as fund opioid addiction treatment via legal settlements, along with allocating $1 million to incentivize municipalities that have 16- and 17-year olds vote.
“Our budget will provide grants to municipal leaders across New Jersey to create new opportunities for 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local school board elections, just as they are already doing in our state’s largest city, Newark,” stated Murphy.
“Over the past year, I have been proud to help lead the charge for youth voting rights. Because young Americans are the future of our country. And, in a world as complicated as ours, they deserve the right to help shape that future.”
State Senators Raj Mukherji (D-32) and Brian Stack (D-33) sponsored the legislation in the upper chamber.
Murphy also touted $1 billion in cannabis sales last year, while the budget also includes significant tax hikes on online gambling and internet sports betting, cigarettes, guns, and alcohol.
“Together, we are going to write our state’s greatest chapter yet. And we will leave our children a state that is better than we found it. Thank you all so much,” Murphy concluded.
“May God bless you and your families. And may God continue to bless the great State of New Jersey and the United States of America.”
32nd Legislative District Assembly candidate Katie Brennan said in a statement that she would’ve liked to see a budget with more money for housing, transit, and protections against Trump.
“The governor is right when he says that ‘these are not normal times,’ but we need the state budget to reflect that. The Trump administration is considering extreme cuts to states like New Jersey along with cuts to programs that millions of families rely on,” she began.
“The state needs to build its reserves and prepare for the worst, not spend down the surplus like this budget proposal does. And the federal administration isn’t the only thing that isn’t normal. Skyrocketing housing costs are not normal, and the constant delays and breakdowns on NJ Transit aren’t normal either. We need bold investments to immediately address the housing crisis and to fix our transit infrastructure.”
