Gov. Murphy unveils $38.6B state budget for 2020 fiscal year

Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled details of his $38.6 billion state budget for the 2020 fiscal year – an increase of about $1 billion from the current budget.

News 12 Staff

Mar 5, 2019, 2:08 AM

Updated 1,884 days ago

Share:

Gov. Murphy unveils $38.6B state budget for 2020 fiscal year
Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled details of his $38.6 billion state budget for the 2020 fiscal year – an increase of about $1 billion from the current budget.
The governor said in his address Tuesday that he would finance the new budget with higher income tax rates on wealthy residents and savings in public worker benefits.
Among the changes Murphy proposes are boosting income tax rates to the top bracket of 10.75 percent from 8.97 percent on people making more than $1 million. He's also calling for a boost to New Jersey Transit, K-12 school aid and a higher public pension payment. The budget also has a 16 percent decrease in public worker health benefits.
Republican lawmakers say that an increased tax on the wealthy would simply cause those residents to leave New Jersey, taking the tax revenue with them.
undefined
HIGHLIGHTS
TAXES
Murphy proposed higher income tax rates for people earning over $1 million.
His proposals seek to apply the state's top bracket of 10.75 percent, which is currently levied only on incomes over $5 million, to people making more than $1 million.
The Democratic leaders who control the Legislature have said they oppose higher taxes. It's unclear how Murphy's spending proposal could be balanced without the roughly $450 million in revenue from the tax on the wealthy.
SAVINGS
Murphy says his proposal reflects a projected a 16 percent decrease in the cost of public worker health benefits. The savings are expected to come from shifting workers into cheaper health care plans, lowering costs related to out-of-network providers as well as from booting ineligible dependents from state plans, such as divorced spouses.
Murphy says about $200 million will come from state government staff reductions and other "departmental savings."
SCHOOL AID
The budget calls for a $206 million boost in state aid for pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. That's a 3 percent increase over the current year's budget. Increased education aid, the governor said, helps reduce the need of school districts to raise their property tax rates.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The governor is calling for increasing this year's $25 million allocation for tuition-free community college by $33.5 million. He says the beefed-up fund should help over 18,000 students get a two-year degree.
NEW JERSEY TRANSIT
Murphy is calling for an additional $100 million in general fund subsidies for the state's transit agency. That will bring the subsidy from about $307 million to $407 million.
PROPERTY TAXES
Murphy is asking lawmakers to approve $201 million for a property tax relief program that benefits seniors and disabled residents by freezing their rates. He's also budgeted $283 million in property tax rebates for moderate-income families. Those rebates translated to $202 a year in rebates for eligible homeowners in 2018.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.


More from News 12
2:19
Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

2:23
Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, community advocates file over 150 lawsuits accusing staff at juvenile facilities

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, community advocates file over 150 lawsuits accusing staff at juvenile facilities

2:20
Lingering showers end early Wednesday before sunnier skies arrive

Lingering showers end early Wednesday before sunnier skies arrive

1:37
Police: 79-year-old woman found dead in her Grand Concourse apartment

Police: 79-year-old woman found dead in her Grand Concourse apartment

1:33
NYPD: Man wanted for robbing Mott Haven deli at gunpoint

NYPD: Man wanted for robbing Mott Haven deli at gunpoint

1:57
Pelham Parkway dialysis center closing soon, leaving patients angered

Pelham Parkway dialysis center closing soon, leaving patients angered

1:45
Transportation Alternatives: 2024 was the deadliest start to a year since start of Vision Zero

Transportation Alternatives: 2024 was the deadliest start to a year since start of Vision Zero

1:36
Residents say they feel unsafe after bricks fell from their building

Residents say they feel unsafe after bricks fell from their building

1:28
Multiplex Cinema in Concourse Village set to close; BP Gibson says mall owners mull another theater

Multiplex Cinema in Concourse Village set to close; BP Gibson says mall owners mull another theater

1:13
Police: Wanted suspect linked to overnight shooting of teen in Claremont Park

Police: Wanted suspect linked to overnight shooting of teen in Claremont Park

0:21
Police: Newborn found dead in Melrose section of the Bronx

Police: Newborn found dead in Melrose section of the Bronx

1:51
Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

1:31
Bronx mother accused of killing 6-year-old daughter appears in court

Bronx mother accused of killing 6-year-old daughter appears in court

0:28
New NYC Public Schools course will teach students about the impacts of hate crimes

New NYC Public Schools course will teach students about the impacts of hate crimes

1:36
EmblemHealth to open new medical facility in Fordham section of the Bronx

EmblemHealth to open new medical facility in Fordham section of the Bronx

0:21
Police: 32-year-old man fatally shot in the head in Throgs Neck

Police: 32-year-old man fatally shot in the head in Throgs Neck

1:58
DCWP accuses R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes of exploiting grieving families in lawsuit

DCWP accuses R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes of exploiting grieving families in lawsuit

1:30
Exclusive video: 4 suspects wanted for gunpoint robbery in Morrisania

Exclusive video: 4 suspects wanted for gunpoint robbery in Morrisania

1:56
New electric school buses to replace full NYC diesel fleet in by 2035

New electric school buses to replace full NYC diesel fleet in by 2035

1:38
Residents out and about on day of sunshine

Residents out and about on day of sunshine