New Governor, Same Old Taxes? GOP Slams Gov. Sherrill’s $60.7B “Irresponsible” Budget
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Is New Jersey becoming even more unaffordable? Despite a change in leadership, Republican lawmakers say the state’s fiscal trajectory remains stuck on “autopilot”—and the destination is higher taxes.
On Tuesday, Governor Mikie Sherrill unveiled her first state spending plan, a massive $60.7 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. While the administration frames the plan as a step forward, Assembly Republicans are sounding the alarm on what they call “the same old song” of tax hikes and broken promises.
The $1.9 Billion Surge: Where is the Money Going?
The proposed budget represents a $1.9 billion increase in spending, continuing a decade-long trend of growth. Assembly Republican Conference Leader Christopher P. DePhillips (R-Bergen) was quick to criticize the upward climb.
“Spending continues to move in the wrong direction – up and up, just like the last eight years. This is more of the same, and nothing, apparently, has changed,” said DePhillips. “This budget is not a win for the people of this state and does not improve affordability.”
The “Revenue Enhancement” Trap
According to Assembly Republican Budget Officer Brian Rumpf (R-Ocean), the budget relies on nearly $1 billion in new taxes, disguised under the political label of “revenue enhancements.”
The proposed tax increases include:
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Corporate Tax Shifts: Phasing out specific business deductions.
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Healthcare Hikes: Increasing employer health care contributions.
“New governor, same old song,” Rumpf remarked. “For Republicans, we call it taxes, because we call it like it is.”
A “Slap in the Face” to Seniors: StayNJ Cuts
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Gov. Sherrill’s proposal is the treatment of the StayNJ property tax relief program. While the Governor claims to be “reducing spending” by $2 billion, the GOP points out that this reduction comes directly out of the pockets of New Jersey seniors.
The Proposed StayNJ Cuts:
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Reduced Benefits: The maximum benefit would drop from $6,500 to $4,000.
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Tightened Eligibility: The income cap for the program would be slashed from $500,000 to $250,000.
“The first thing that Gov. Sherrill does when she comes to office is cut the most significant program for tax savings for our seniors in this state,” Rumpf added.
The Big Picture: A Decadelong Spending Spree
The GOP’s frustration is rooted in long-term data. Since 2018, New Jersey has seen a staggering expansion of the state government’s footprint:
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State Taxes: Increased by $23 billion.
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State Spending: Increased by $26 billion.
As the budget battle heads to Trenton, the central question remains: Can New Jersey afford its own government?
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Tags: #NJPolitics #NewJerseyBudget #TaxHike #StayNJ #Seniors #Affordability #Trenton #GOP #MikieSherrill
A senior citizen with $500,000 of annual income does not need help paying real estate taxes.
That senior is subsidizing you new arrivals from New York with kids in school
the bloated school budget should be paid for by the users
Born in NJ. Live in NJ.
Kids long out of school and I’m not crying for help in paying the real estate taxes I was aware of when I bought my house.
How do you think the SaveNJ program is funded, by taking money from other people.
39 trillion in debt because everyone has their hand out.
Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me.
She is such a dope. Keep chasing seniors out of NJ who spend lots of money that you can get sales taxes on and keep inviting illegal immigrants who drain the state resources.
Do us a favor. Get back in Bloombergs helicopter and fly back to your home state
Exactly if I was making $500,000 a year as a senior citizen you think I give two shits about a senior discount please