Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Here are the figures, actions and pledges surrounding Gov. Chris Christie's 2010-11 state budget.
Total proposed budget: $29.3 billion, $2.9 billion less than Gov. Jon Corzine‘s $32.1 billion 2009-10 budget.
The budget proposal suspends the state Homestead Rebate Program. When it resumes in May 2011, property tax relief will appear as a direct tax credit on bills.
Christie says the state has lost more than $1 billion in one-time federal stimulus aid, a development that is forcing a reduction in state aid to school district of $819 million. That is a 4.99 percent cut for every district.
The budget reduces state aid to cities, towns and counties by $446 million reduction in municipal and county aid.Christie maintains the school and local government reductions will result in no more than a $250 tax hike for every property owner and renters who support them.
Christie plans to layoff 1,300 state employees beginning Jan. 1 as he attempts to eliminate or privatize state programs.
Christie says the new budget:
- Preserves the health care safety net by increasing hospital charity care from $605 million to $665 million;
- Continues enrollment and benefits for all eligible children into both Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare;
- Preserves access to medications for seniors by maintaining program eligibility for prescription drugs;
- Expands the food stamp program to 185 percent of the federal poverty level;
- Continues to maintain funding for welfare grants to families; and
- Keeps New Jersey parks and beaches open.
State spending has been reduced for hundreds of state programs and operations, reducing spending $1.6 billion when compared to the 2009-10 budget. From a full-funding starting point, all reductions amount to more than $10.73 billion.
A call for the Legislature to approve a constitutional amendment asking voters to approve a referendum on the November ballot that would impose a 2.5 percent spending cap on municipal, county and school district property tax increases.
Christie is supporting what are described as reforms to state and local public employee pension and health benefits. The governor will sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.
The budget does not include a $3 billion contribution to the financially-struggling public employee pension systems.
He is also calling for civil service reform — allowing local governments to opt out of following civil service standards for their employees, collective public employee bargaining reform, and management reform.
