SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Ahead of Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget address on Tuesday, New Jersey Republicans have a few suggestions that they say will fully fund schools and lower property taxes.
Republicans in Trenton estimate there will be $2 billion in tax overcollection, and they want that money to go toward permanent tax cuts.
“We run for office to help people and helping New Jerseyans that are overtaxed and over burdened for decades should be high on our list of priorities,” said Assemblyman John DiMaio.
DiMaio says they want to increase school funding by $1.2 billion, to fully fund each district in the state. In turn, he said, the districts would then be required to lower local school taxes, dollar for dollar, from the amount they received.
“I am proud to say we have received good feedback and that every single school district and every single property tax payer will benefit from this proposal.”
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DiMaio says school funding and high property taxes have been problems in New Jersey since the 1960s.
Republicans claim spending has gotten out of control with the Murphy administration. Assemblyman John DiMaio says spending is out of control in Trenton and yet schools still aren’t fully funded. And some hard feelings are still lingering from last year, when Republicans say Democrats added about $2 billion in surprises to the $50 billion budget in late June, with most of that money going to Democratic legislative districts.
Democrats are firmly in control in Trenton and don’t need any Republican support to pass the budget.
Nonetheless, DiMaio says he hopes there will be more good-faith negotiation this year and no last minute surprises.
DiMaio also says the state must also prepare for a possible recession by using one-time funding sources like federal dollars to pay down as much debt as possible and reduce future spending obligations.
Several groups are backing the Republicans proposal, including the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey.