NJCA statement on Governor Sherrill's budget address

Newark—March 10, 2026—-New Jersey Citizen Action Director of Policy and Advocacy Maura Collinsgru released the following statement today in response to Governor Mikie Sherrill's budget address.

“Governor Mikie Sherrill has been dealt a perfect fiscal storm for her administration’s first budget, and her proposed budget demonstrates she’s willing to make some hard choices to do what’s best for our state, particularly for working families. It’s a reform-minded budget that seeks to tackle the brutal economic crisis millions of New Jerseyans face because of draconian federal cuts. It also makes strides in addressing the wrongs of past fiscal decisions that strain both state resources and the household budgets of state residents.

“We applaud Governor Sherrill’s proposals to eliminate some business tax deductions and lower the thresholds for the property tax relief program Stay NJ. Her proposal to impose penalties on large employers who have been raking in profits while their employees are forced to rely on our state’s Medicaid program for health insurance is an important step to addressing the socio-economic imbalances troubling our state. We also applaud the Governor‘s proposed supports for working families that include lowering utility bills and investing in pre-K and childcare, all essential needs for state residents.

“The budget funds the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, although given the economic crisis sweeping our entire state we urge these credits be expanded. We can also better address our ongoing housing crisis by ensuring more funding is available for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. We also urgently need a more robust rental assistance program and the Administration and Legislature should take policy actions to drive down the high cost of rent in our state.

“We also strongly urge Governor Sherrill to do more to address the health care affordability crisis engulfing our entire nation. Federal cuts threaten the health insurance of more than half million New Jerseyans on Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans, who face either skyrocketing premiums or losing healthcare altogether, to say nothing of the 1.6 million state residents who rely on Medicaid. Assembling a health care task force is a laudable action but not enough. People who lose health insurance fall off a fiscal cliff they may never come back from, and New Jersey should do everything possible to ensure all our residents have access to quality, affordable care, while also bringing down the overall costs of healthcare.

“To effectively address the healthcare, housing and overall affordability crises facing New Jersey’s low-and moderate-income residents will require more revenue. For this reason, we urge Governor Sherrill to reconsider increasing taxes on the ultra-wealthy. Under the Trump administration, our wealthiest residents have enjoyed a windfall while our working families find essentials increasingly out of reach. We ask that this administration address this imbalance, as they have sought to address others.

“We have applauded Governor Sherill’s commitment to transparency during this budget process so far. We urge her to make good on that commitment to inclusive and democratic reform and to help ensure our State Legislature follows that example. We must put an end to the undemocratic, backroom process of the Governor, the Senate President, and Assembly Speaker making final decisions about a nearly $60 billion state budget outside of the public eye. The process should require many more public hearings than in years past and much more time for the general public to give meaningful input before a final budget is adopted.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Sherrill and our State Legislature to craft a budget that works for all New Jerseyans, while ensuring all state residents have a voice in the process."