Murphy’s $56.6B budget raises taxes, increases spending by 4.2% (but the Senate Budget chair admits he doesn’t know what’s in it)

June 29, 2024 Matt Rooney state budget 0

“The budget we’ll pass today enshrines the Murphy administration’s record as one of tragically missed opportunities,” state Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13) complained on Friday shortly before Trenton adopted Governor Phil Murphy’s second-to-last budget.

It’s $56.6 billion in total, representing a 4.2% spending jump over Fiscal Year 2025.

The state corporation business tax rate (for businesses earning in excess of $10 million) is rising from 9% rate to 11.5%. To offset property taxes, address school funding shortfalls, or fix pothole-riddled highways? Nah. The money is headed to New Jersey Transit which never seems to improve no matter how much cash is thrown at it.

Trenton Democrats are also ending the sales tax holiday for school supplies, a legislative election year gimmick that they’re now happy to scrap to pay for other assorted waste, graft and corruption. Those “priorities” include a mountain of so-called Christmas tree line items (including a municipal tennis instruction program?) and the recently-enacted 67% pay increase for Trenton politicians.

Amazingly, the Senate Budget Chairman admit he didn’t even read it.

“I could not take a test and be quizzed on every line item because it would take hours and hours and days and months,” Paul Sarlo told NJ.com. “I try to look at it in totality and that’s where I think we’re at.”

Here’s a decidedly more sane take from Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-26):

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Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8626 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.