NJ Spotlight--Contradiction in Christie Budget Plan: Grow Revenue $1B While Cutting Taxes
The governor may be taking a gamble, but if he’s wrong it will be up to his successor to make things right — most likely with last-minute spending cuts
The new budget that Gov. Chris Christie proposed earlier this week for New Jersey’s next fiscal year counts on state revenues growing by about $1 billion even as a round of phased-in tax cuts enacted last year will continue to take hold.
Christie’s relatively rosy revenue outlook comes as his administration has slightly downgraded the tax-collection forecast for the current fiscal year, and after the Republican governor called for an extra $400 million in spending on road, bridge, and mass-transit projects within the next 100 days.
John Reitmeyer | March 3, 2017
StarLedger--School aid stays flat in Christie budget plan
New Jersey school districts got a first look at their state aid figures for the coming school year on Thursday, two days after Gov. Chris Christie unveiled his $35.5 billion spending plan.
Christie kept funding the same in nearly every district compared to the current year – except for a handful that got slight increases mostly of 1 percent or less.
The proposed budget includes $13.8 billion for schools, up $523.2 million from the current year to cover direct aid, debt service for school construction, pension, Social Security and post-retirement health benefits, according to the state.
Hannan Adely , Staff Writer, @AdelyReporter 8:29 p.m. ET March 2, 2017