Chairman Jones Applauds Gov. Murphy, Democratic Legislators for Investing in NJ’s Working Families with State Budget

Chairman Hails Inclusion of Expanded Free Public College, Middle Class Tax Relief and Historic Pension Payment as Major Wins for NJ

TRENTON, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy officially signed into law the state’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget today after it was passed last week in both the State Senate and General Assembly, including numerous investments in New Jersey’s working families that will make a major difference in their quality of life. NJDSC Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. is releasing the following statement on the budget:

“I applaud Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Coughlin and all Democrats in our state legislature for adopting this historic budget that will make critical investments in working families throughout our state.

From expanding the Garden State Guarantee program to offer four years of tuition free college to eligible students for the first time, to providing more direct property tax relief to the middle class than we have seen in decades, to making a massive $6.9 billion payment to strengthen the pension system that so many working families in our state rely on for financial and retirement security and so much more, this is a budget that funds many of our greatest needs and it will have a significant, positive impact on New Jerseyans for years to come.

At this critical moment in time when our state is still addressing the pandemic and beginning our recovery, these investments will undoubtedly support the residents who have been on the front lines of COVID-19 working hard to keep our state afloat. It means more funding for our public schools to ensure that they can safely, fully reopen in September; more support for small businesses that desperately need it so they can expand their workforce and create more opportunities; more assistance for hardworking middle-class taxpayers with a new $500 rebate program and expansion of the Homestead Rebate program; and much-needed relief for lower income residents still struggling with an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit, additional funding for anti-hunger efforts and much more.

This is a state budget we can be immensely proud of and I once again thank Governor Murphy and our Democratic legislators for taking the immense challenges we face head on and delivering for the people of New Jersey.”

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