For Immediate Release

June 30, 2023

We strongly believe that investment in our water infrastructure is a vital necessity to provide for the health and resilience of every community in New Jersey now and in the future. This year’s budget has woefully underfunded our water infrastructure needs, and kicks the can down the road on these obligations, ultimately placing the burden of updating our aging water infrastructure on the shoulders of regular ratepayers and community members. Federal stimulus and recovery funds have presented NJ with a historic, once in a generation opportunity to make meaningful improvements. It’s up to the State of New Jersey to match that commitment and do its part to remove lead service lines, improve stormwater management, and assist our combined sewer overflow communities in fixing their outdated polluting systems. We are deeply disappointed in our government’s failure to rise to this challenge and prioritize water investment in the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget.

We are encouraged by the legislature’s commitment to allocating funding for an urban park at the State House. Through dedicating $3 million to the future Capital Park, our state leaders have ensured that park space will be accessible to the public to enjoy, and that this park development will pair with the $300 million already spent on renovating our State House.

Founded in 1987, New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments to foster vibrant cities and towns, protect natural lands and waterways, enhance transportation choices, provide access to safe, affordable and aging-friendly neighborhoods and fuel a strong economy. The organization does this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to New Jersey Future’s mission and operations. To effectively advance its mission, New Jersey Future is firmly committed to pursue a culture of greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through its programs, internal operations and external communications.