Republicans can’t scrutinize what they can’t see, and Trenton Democrats still haven’t released the final version of Phil Murphy’s FY 2024 budget to the opposition party on the eve of the anticipated vote. June 30th is the constitutional deadline for a budget to be passed and adopted in order to avoid a government shutdown. The timeline leaves next to no time for debate (by design).
Billions in spending, 100 special pork barrel line items, and at least five tax worth $2 billion are likely to make the final cut; the total package (in its originally introduced form) was $53.1 billion, a 5% increase over FY 2023. The GOP is also bracing for finalized school funding cuts impacting 160 school districts.
“It’s outrageous that we’re going to be asked to vote on a record spending bill tomorrow by the Democratic Majority without anyone having seen a copy of the bill yet,” said state Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-23) who serves as the GOP Budget Officer. “We don’t even have an outline of the plan to help us understand the billions of dollars of changes they are proposing. This is no way to run a government.”
“Legislators will be asked to vote for a budget with hundreds of taxpayer-funded gifts inserted by Governor Murphy including money for a private lacrosse club, a French Arts museum in a city where school aid was slashed, and even a Dominoes Club,” added state Senator Michael Testa (R-1). “There’s also an unexplained $250,000 appropriation for a privately run pool in Deal, one of the richest communities in the state, to an organization whose director is paid $300,000 a year. We asked for explanations for this funding from the Governor and legislative Democrats and got nothing. They know this spending isn’t justified or fair so they don’t even bother trying to explain it.”
It may get worse before it’s over. Past budget processes saw additional pork barrel items added in the hours preceding a vote as the power elite work overtime to purchase support.
“If history is any guide, we are about to get a budget at the last minute with dozens or even hundreds of Christmas tree add-ons with no explanation, justification, or background,” said state Senator Doug Steinhardt (R-23). “This is the exact opposite of how an open and transparent budget process is supposed to work.”
Here’s a partial list of items supplied by the Senate Republican office on Monday:
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|
|
|
FAVORED MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS |
FY24 PROPOSED |
|
Deal – Sephardic Youth Center Inc. Playground Expansion |
$250,000 |
|
Deal – Axelrod Performing Arts Center Ballet Dance |
$100,000 |
|
Jersey City – French Arts Museum |
$12,000,000 |
|
Elizabeth – Institute of Music for Children |
$5,000,000 |
|
Asbury Park Theater |
$100,000 |
|
Bergenfield – Little League |
$25,000 |
|
Bergenfield – Police Athletic League – operating |
$25,000 |
|
Bergenfield – Senior Activity Center |
$100,000 |
|
Paramus – Public Safety |
$25,000 |
|
River Edge – Public Facilities Improvement |
$900,000 |
|
Hasbrouck Heights – Flood Mitigation |
$100,000 |
|
Little Ferry – Roads |
$1,000,000 |
|
Maywood – Public facilities |
$430,000 |
|
Asbury Park – Building Replacement |
$500,000 |
|
Union City – social services |
$5,000,000 |
|
Montgomery – Infrastructure |
$3,000,000 |
|
Monmouth Beach – Beautification |
$25,000 |
|
Long Branch – Volunteer Firefighters Museum |
$200,000 |
|
West Orange – Recreation |
$110,000 |
|
Fair Lawn – Public Facilities |
$1,490,000 |
|
Freehold Boro – Liberty Street Improvements |
$350,000 |
|
FAVORED PUBLIC SAFETY |
|
|
Princeton – First Responders Radios |
$222,000 |
|
Eatontown – Public Safety |
$100,000 |
|
FAVORED YOUTH/DAYCARE/COMMUNITY CENTERS |
|
|
Neptune Twp. – Midtown Youth Programs |
$50,000 |
|
Monmouth Day Care Center |
$25,000 |
|
SPECIAL K-12 EDUCATION FUNDING |
|
|
Paramus Schools – Athletic Fields Improvement |
$1,500,000 |
|
Neptune Twp. School District – Capital |
$100,000 |
|
Hillsborough School District – Capital |
$626,000 |
|
Somerset County Vo Tech – Capital |
$750,000 |
|
FAVORED COMMUNITY COLLEGES |
|
|
Brookdale CC |
$250,000 |
|
FAVORED FOUR YEAR HIGHER EDUCATION |
|
|
Rabbinical College of America/Chabad of NJ |
$250,000 |
|
FAVORED COUNTIES |
|
|
Middlesex County – Art. Turf Fields (Cricket, Rugby, etc) Tennis Courts |
$20,000,000 |
|
FAVORED HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS |
|
|
Monmouth Day Care Center |
$25,000 |
|
FAVORED COMMUNITY GROUP / SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS |
|
|
Bergenfield – Dominos Club Operating Costs |
$50,000 |
|
NJ Interscholastic Lacrosse Officials Association |
$20,000 |
|
Spanish American Cultural Association of Bergenfield, Cultural Progams |
$10,000 |
|
IBEW – Benevolent Fund – Scholarship |
$50,000 |
|
Shri Krishna Nd hi Foundation |
$100,000 |
|
Qspot LGBT Community Center |
$50,000 |
|
Spanish American Cultural Association of Bergenfield, Cultural Progams |
$10,000 |
