The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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TRENTON, NJ — CNBC has released its 2025 ranking of America’s Top States for Business, and New Jersey landed in 30th place overall. While the Garden State scored well in some categories, its persistent struggles with business costs, taxes, and regulations continue to drag down its overall competitiveness.
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East Rutherford NJ, excitement is building as New Jersey gears up to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and a significant step has just been taken to enhance the MetLife sports complex. This week, the state approved an additional $25 million in taxpayer funding aimed at meeting the high standards required for hosting this prestigious event.
Continue reading MetLife Stadium Gets a $25 Million Upgrade for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Ridgewood NJ, a new report by budget expert Matt Dickerson at EPIC is debunking a long-standing myth about who pays taxes in America. According to the report, which uses simple charts based on data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the claim that “teachers and firefighters pay a higher share of their income in taxes than millionaires and billionaires” is far from the truth.
Continue reading Who Really Pays Taxes in America? New Report Sheds Light on the Truth
Texas is known for its dynamic and diverse range of entertainment and living. A unique blend of thriving cities, rich cultural heritage, and a robust economy is an added appeal to this place. So, choosing a Texas to live in is an exciting choice yet a challenging decision; apart from many attractiveness, Austin and Houston are two of the most popular choices for a new change. Both cities have unique offerings. Before any further step, it is essential to weigh the pros and cons of each. Let’s dive into what makes these two cities stand out and explore which might be the best fit for you.
Continue reading Which Top City in Texas Is Best to Live In?
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Trenton NJ, the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell by 2.5 points in August to 91.2, erasing all of July’s gain. This is the 32nd consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index rose to 92, its highest level since October 2020. Inflation remains the top issue among small business owners, with 24% of owners reporting it as their top small business operating issue, down one point from July.
Continue reading New Jersey Small Business Optimism Dips in August
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Ridgewood NJ, did you know that Bergen County, New Jersey, is home to a staggering 70 municipalities? Among them, there are 56 boroughs, three cities, two villages, and nine townships, making it the county with the most municipalities in the entire state. But why does one of New Jersey’s 21 counties house about 12% of the state’s total municipalities?
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Trenton NJ, New Jersey’s unemployment rate has remained nearly unchanged for almost a year, now ranking as the sixth highest in the nation, according to recent data. As the national labor market shows signs of slowing down, high interest rates and corporate downsizing have left their mark on the state’s economy. The Federal Reserve is holding rates steady and may cut rates just once in 2024.
Continue reading New Jersey’s Unemployment Rate Stagnates Amid Economic Shifts
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Trenton NJ, Assembly Republican Conference Leader Christopher DePhillips is calling on legislative leaders to take tax increases off the table as Democrats discuss hiking the sales tax to fund NJ Transit during the final weeks of state budget negotiations. Instead, DePhillips wants to do a top-to-bottom review of NJ Transit to identify waste and cost-saving measures.
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Trenton NJ, as April 15th , Tax Day approaches, let’s delve into some eye-opening statistics about state taxes and migration patterns. According to Self Financial, New Jersey residents bear the weight of the highest lifetime tax burden, averaging just shy of $1 million ($987,117).
Continue reading New Jersey Residents Pay Close to $1 Million in Taxes From Birth to Death
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Trenton NJ, a collection of more than 100 business, labor and nonprofit groups have sent a letter to all members the New Jersey Legislature urging them to oppose Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed $1-billion-plus business tax increase on business in the FY25 State Budget.
Continue reading New Jersey’s Economic Competitiveness Goes From Bad to Worse
photos courtesy of Ridgewood Schools
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Ridgewood NJ, April 15th is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, so some RHS students in Mrs. Anderson’s Statistics with Finance course learned about filing taxes and completed a 1040 form activity, using either their own W2 or a sample W2 to file their 2023 tax return!
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Ridgewood NJ, with Tax Day coming up on April 15 and 72% of Americans thinking their current tax rate is too high, WalletHub today released its report on the states with the Best & Worst Taxpayer Return on Investment in 2024, as well as expert commentary.
Continue reading WalletHub Study: New Jersey Is 2024’s State with the 9th Worst Taxpayer ROI
sometimes you can fall off the floor
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Trenton NJ, NJBIA released its 2024 Regional Business Climate Analysis showing New Jersey continues to remain last in the region by a wide margin in terms of business taxes and cost competitiveness.
file photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood Council convened on Wednesday evening to address the 2024 fiscal year budget and receive a comprehensive overview of spending levels from 2023. Village Manager Keith Kazmark and Village CFO Bob Rooney presented the budget specifics to the mayor and council during the session.
Continue reading Village of Ridgewood 2024 Budget Calls for a 2.74% Tax Increase
By Scott Goldstein, Communications Manager, N.J. Chamber of Commerce
Trenton NJ, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken, delivering testimony this morning in front of the Assembly Budget Committee, said the proposed $56 billion state budget would inflict damage on New Jersey’s economy and its reputation as an improving destination to run a business. Bracken primarily took aim at what he called a “punitive and egregious” 2.5% Corporation Business Tax hike on the state’s biggest employers.
