TRENTON, NJ – After more than two weeks of delay, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is expected to finally present in 2022 state budget message, but Republicans aren’t holding their breath for any relief passed on to the taxpayers of the state.
‘The unprecedented two-week delay Gov. Phil Murphy requested to deliver his budget message won’t change the result much according to Assemblyman Hal Wirths, the Assembly Republican budget officer,” said Assemblyman Hal Wirths, of Sussex County. “Murphy will possibly announce three or four billion dollars in unexpected revenue because he and the Democrats have over taxed us for the last five years even while inflation socks low-income families and the middle-class. But expect him to spin reality to be rosier. And tax cuts won’t reduce revenue this year.”
State revenue continues to soar. It was up by over $4 billion in January, and experts expect it will continue to climb due to factors such as inflation that drive up revenue without actually increasing tax rates, Wirths said.
“Where will that revenue go?” asked Wirths. “Don’t be surprised to see Governor Murphy tout his education spending. Because of inflation and federal requirements, there will have to be a record payment far above what we have seen historically. Murphy doesn’t deserve any credit for doing what he is obligated to do for schools.”
“Murphy might also brag about pension funding being less of a burden and enabling more property tax relief, even though he hasn’t publicly supported any bill that would actually lower property taxes,” continued Wirths. “That won’t stop him from boasting about no new tax increases while ignoring all the tax increases that are about to happen anyway.”
“Get your nose plugs ready for the budget address. There is going to be a lot of you-know-what,” Wirths laughed.