Oroho Statement on State Budget Bill

Senator Steven V. Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris), Senate Republican Budget Officer, issued the following statement in response to the State Legislature passing the State Budget Bill today:

“A State Budget without tax increases is important for our economic brand and a win for taxpayers. Republicans have advocated against the tax hikes as Governor Murphy proposed in his budget document and we appreciate the Legislative Leadership for stripping them out of the Budget Bill as passed today. I would hope we continue with such fiscal restraint and start taking legislative action immediately on the Path To Progress recommendations to help systematically control government costs.

“Having said that, I am greatly concerned about the adverse impact on property taxes in my legislative district due to the loss of education aid to most of the school districts that I represent. I have consistently advocated for significant changes to the school funding formula and will continue to do so. One positive change that is reflected in the State Budget Bill is a commitment to have the State start to assume the costs of extraordinary special education that strap local school budgets. This change will definitely help my schools, but the overall loss of aid is still too considerable.

“While I sincerely appreciate the effort to fund many key priorities in the Budget Bill without the tax increases as originally proposed by Governor Murphy, school aid is just too important for its impact on property taxes that I will be voting No today.”