New Jersey Tax Incentive Task Force to Hold First Public Hearing

Thursday, March 28 at 10:00 am in Trenton, N.J.

TRENTON — The Task Force charged by Governor Phil Murphy with investigating billions of dollars in economic incentives approved by the NJ Economic Development Authority over the past two decades will hold its first hearing on Thursday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m.

The Task Force will interview several witnesses at this public hearing as members seek to determine if $11 billion in tax incentives and credits were properly awarded and monitored and if thousands of promised jobs were created or retained.

Spurred by a report from the State Comptroller that disclosed a lack of monitoring and oversight over past awards, as well as thousands of jobs that could not be substantiated, the Task Force has begun the job of reviewing every award with any paid benefits under two tax-incentive programs.

What: An open public hearing of the Task Force, chaired by Ronald K. Chen, former New Jersey Public Advocate and Distinguished Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School, who will receive legal counsel from Walden Macht & Haran LLP, a leading law firm in government investigations, with the assistance of Quiñones Law PLLC, a boutique law firm with expertise in corporate compliance and integrity monitoring.

Who:  Task Force Chair Professor Ronald Chen and his team will provide a status report on the progress of their work, calling a number of witnesses who will come forward to discuss the administration of, and compliance with, N.J. tax-incentive programs, as well as recommendations to strengthen oversight over and the effectiveness of New Jersey’s tax-incentive programs.

Time constraints preclude the Task Force from taking public comment at this hearing, however, comments from the public will be welcomed at a future hearing, time and date to be announced.

When: 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 28, 2019

Where: Trenton War Memorial, George Washington Ballroom. 1 Memorial Dr, Trenton, NJ 08608

Press: Open to all media