| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Governor Corzines' recommendation for $19.5M in special education grant funding remains in final budget.Go to this link to see copy of the final budget bill for FY07, aid for schools starts on page 49 of this PDF format, under Dept of Education: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A3500/4900_I1.PDF (click on "More" below for actual hyperlink)
Youcan also get into the the budget bill by going to the New Jersey Legislature website and keying in A4900, the bill number.
NJ governor ends government shutdown after lawmakers pass budget
Lawmakers pass budget; casinos to open by noon
Go to this link to see copy of the final budget bill for FY07, aid for schools starts on page 49 of this PDF format, under Dept of Education:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A3500/4900_I1.PDF
NJ governor ends government shutdown after lawmakers pass budget
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine issued an executive order early Saturday ending a weeklong state government shutdown. The governor acted minutes after lawmakers approved a $30.9 billion budget that increases the state sales tax, ending a stalemate that also forced the closing of the "I now feel comfortable we can begin the orderly restoring of the business of government," Corzine said. The 12 casinos, which closed Wednesday, were prepared to resume operations around 7 a.m., Corzine said. Lottery ticket sales were to resume Saturday morning, and state parks and beaches were to reopen on Sunday. On Monday, 45,000 furloughed state workers could also return to work, although exact plans haven't been announced. Motor vehicle offices and vehicle inspection stations were to reopen on Monday. The Senate voted 23-17 to approve the budget at 4:20 a.m. The Assembly followed suit at 5:40 a.m., by a 44-35 vote. Both votes were largely along party lines. The budget reflects a compromise reached Thursday between Corzine and legislative leaders that will increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent and set aside half the proceeds for property tax relief. Corzine said he wasn't sure exactly when he would sign the budget, saying he wanted to take some time to review it. He hoped to do it Saturday. "We're going to do a thorough and professional job — as good as anyone can possibly do operating on three hours sleep three nights in a row," Corzine said. The budget crisis began when Democrats who control the state Assembly balked at the Democratic governor's proposal to increase the sales tax. The resulting impasse caused the Legislature to miss the July 1 deadline for passing a new budget. With no authority to spend money, Corzine ordered nonessential government services suspended. Under the compromise, Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. agreed to increase the sales tax, but set aside half the new money to help relieve the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Corzine had wanted all of the $1.1 billion from the sales tax increase to go toward helping close a $4.5 billion budget deficit. "With the budget crisis finally behind us, it is imperative that we move quickly to address the No. 1 concern of residents: New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes," said Roberts, who on Friday introduced constitutional amendments to ensure money from the sales tax increase is used for property tax relief. The sales tax increase will cost the average Some drama was sparked in the Assembly at 3:30 a.m. when the compromise nearly crumbled. Assemblymen Joseph Vas and John Wisniewski, both D-Middlesex, refused to vote on the bill to boost the sales tax, leaving the vote board at 39-38 for 10 minutes. After goading from several Assembly Democratic leaders, they simultaneously voted to approve the bill to enact "This budget is far from perfect, but it is good for a state that needs to get its financial house in order, good for the thousands of workers and businesses hurt by the shutdown, and good for homeowners in need of property tax relief," said Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer. In addition to the sales tax increase, the budget also contains new taxes or tax increases on corporate income, businesses in urban redevelopment zones, cigarettes, energy facilities, rental cars, HMO premiums, snuff tobacco, commercial property sales, fur clothing and expensive motor vehicles. It also extends the sales tax to more items and takes $50 million from a fund generated by temporary disability benefit taxes and instead use the money to pay for state spending. In all, the budget plan has about $1.8 billion in tax increases. The budget bill also contains about $300 million in special projects added late Friday by Democratic legislators, including many that would help municipalities and organizations represented by Democratic leaders. That, and the failure to get a budget passed by the July 1 deadline, drew the scorn of Republican lawmakers. Assemblyman Joseph Malone, R-Burlington, called the budget standoff and final product "an insult to the intelligence of residents in the state of "This was all about Democrats behaving badly," said Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Bergen, who asked Corzine to veto the special projects. As the Senate budget panel discussed legislation related to the sales tax increase Friday night, Senate Republican Leader Leonard Lance cautioned his colleagues against enacting "unwise public policy," saying, "We will regret what may occur here this evening." The casino closings, the first in the 28-year history of legal gambling in Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. © 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved. |
Lawmakers pass budget; casinos to open by noon
The $30.9 billion state budget that includes New Jersey's first sales tax increase in 16 years passed both houses of the legislature this morning and heads to Gov. Jon Corzine's desk for his signature.
Corzine signed an executive order just after 6 a.m. that ends the first government shutdown in the state's history and
The state lottery is expected to be back in operation sometime today, with state parks and beaches opening on Sunday.
The governor signed an executive order that called for the shutdown of government services on July 1 when lawmakers failed to pass a budget.
Corzine and legislative leaders came to an agreement in principle on Thursday on a new spending plan, but negotiations bogged down Friday as lawmakers bickered over individual items in the spending plan. A preliminary analysis shows more than $310 million of legislative additions, often called “Christmas tree” items, are included in the deal. These items are cash grants that are sent back to home districts by lawmakers. ¶
“This is the Atkins diet Trenton-style. A rush for pork,” said Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex). “I’m not shocked we’re standing here. People are still wrangling for the last nickel they can get for their districts or themselves. And we’ve been out of business for seven days. That’s shameful.” ¶
The state Treasury officials released several details of the new budget, which would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent but devote half of the increase to a yet-to-be-determined form of property tax relief. The increase, officials said, will take effect July 15. ¶
The budget includes: ¶
‡¤Non-senior homeowners who earn more than $70,000 will get only $250 rebates - $100 less than last year. ¶
In his March 1 budget address, Corzine had promised to increase all rebates by 10 percent from last year. He already had abandoned a campaign promise to double the rebates. But even his more modest goal has now fallen victim to other budget priorities. ¶
‡¤Smokers will pay 17.5 cents more per pack in taxes, giving
‡¤People will pay the new 7 percent sales tax on magazines they buy in stores, but not magazine subscriptions. ¶
‡¤Small-business owners who now pay a $500 minimum corporate tax will face an increase. ¶
‡¤A new tax will make fur coats even pricier. ¶
‡¤A one-time “luxury” tax would be imposed on cars and trucks costing $45,000 or more and vehicles that get 19 miles per gallon or less. ¶
‡¤While deep cuts to higher education became a major issue, lawmakers restored only $111 million of the $308 million cut for colleges and universities. At the same time, they approved about $150 million in additional municipal aid. ¶
-- Contributed by Josh Margolin
