TRENTON – Senator Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Senate’s approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget:

“This is a budget that will move New Jersey forward in the face of difficult fiscal conditions, continued economic uncertainty and severe cutbacks in federal aid. We are making the best use of limited resources to address the priority needs of the state’s residents in a fiscally responsible way.

“Working in collaboration with Governor Sherrill, the Assembly and my colleagues in the Senate, we kept the budget at $60.7 billion, the same level as proposed by the Governor.

“It is a spending plan that continues our emphasis on affordability with the largest amount of property tax relief in state history and a substantial increase in child tax credits to help working families. We are also maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility with another full pension payment, a surplus of more than $6 billion and the continued reduction in the structural deficit.

“We were confronted with many difficult decisions that, unfortunately, required reductions in some valued programs, but every effort was made to minimize their impact.

“Our challenges are not over. We will have to contend with the ongoing economic and budgetary consequences of the political turmoil in Washington. But this budget positions New Jersey to better meet these challenges and continue to advance the quality of life for our residents.”