BOMBSHELL Claim: Is Mikie Sherrill Secretly Plotting a 7% NJ Sales Tax Hike?

Trenton Showdown: Republicans Propose a Tax Cut While Democrats Face Scrutiny Over Rumored Increase

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, in a stunning move that has ignited a major political battle in Trenton, Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia has publicly accused Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Democratic leaders of quietly preparing to raise the New Jersey sales tax back to 7%.

This explosive claim comes just as Republicans introduce new legislation, Assembly Bill A6006, aimed at providing immediate financial relief to Garden State residents by slashing the current 6.625% sales tax down to 6% starting in January 2026.

The GOP’s Plan: A 6% Sales Tax for an Affordable NJ

The Republican initiative, spearheaded by Assemblymen Christopher DePhillips and Al Barlas, with Assemblywoman Fantasia as a prime sponsor, positions the GOP as the party of tax relief.

• The Proposal: Lowering the state’s Sales and Use Tax from the current 6.625% to a flat 6%.

• The Goal: To combat New Jersey’s notoriously high cost of living and stop the exodus of families seeking affordability elsewhere.

• The Rationale (per Fantasia): “The state’s finances are a mess… When you spend first and think never, it always catches up.” This is a direct shot at the current administration’s fiscal policies.

This push to cut taxes sets up a direct confrontation with Democrats, many of whom, including former Governor Phil Murphy, have long favored restoring the rate to its previous 7% high.

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The 7% Specter: Sherrill’s Transition Under Fire

Fantasia’s accusation is built on the long-standing progressive desire to return the sales tax to 7%—a move often proposed to stabilize the state budget and fund essential services. She claims this “dream” of the current administration is now being entertained by the incoming Sherrill team.

The Key Allegations:

1. “Secret Plotting”: Fantasia suggests the conversation about a 7% tax hike is happening “behind closed doors” during the current lame-duck legislative session.

2. Progressive Influence: The Assemblywoman points out that progressive policy groups who have historically advocated for the 7% increase are now reportedly advising Governor-Elect Sherrill’s transition team.

3. Fiscal Pressure: With federal COVID relief funds drying up and a tightening revenue outlook, the incoming Sherrill administration faces immense pressure to close a potential budget gap, making a tax hike an appealing—though politically volatile—solution.

Assemblywoman Fantasia: “No surprise that the 7% chatter is back during lame duck… This conversation should be had in the open, not behind closed doors.”

While Mikie Sherrill has previously stated she would not raise the sales tax, neither she nor Governor Murphy has publicly responded to Fantasia’s latest claims. The absence of a denial is fueling speculation in Trenton as lawmakers race through the post-election legislative sprint.

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Why Does the Sales Tax Matter to You?

A tax rate increase from the current 6.625% to 7% might seem small, but it represents millions of dollars taken from New Jersey households. For a state already ranked among the least affordable in the nation, any tax increase hits working families and businesses hard, further damaging the state’s economic competitiveness.

The choice is clear: Tax Relief vs. Revenue Increase. The battle over this tax rate is shaping up to be the first major fiscal fight that will define the trajectory of the new Sherrill administration and New Jersey’s economic future.

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