Support for the Legislature’s Budget Is Coming From Across New Jersey

I join with Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Coughlin in urging the Governor to support continued funding of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, which is critically needed to provide a pathway for court involved persons to reintegrate into society, thereby reducing the burden upon New Jersey’s taxpayers caused by mass incarceration.

James McGreevey – NJ Reentry Corporation

“The New Jersey Children’s Alliance supports the legislature’s budget, which includes $5 million in funding to improve child abuse victims’ access to the comprehensive, quality care provided by Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs).  The coordinated, multidisciplinary response provided by CACs helps children heal from their trauma, holds offenders accountable, and saves money.”

Nydia Monagas – NJ Children’s Alliance

“Direct Support Professionals are the reason people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live integrated lives in the community. The funding in the legislature’s budget to increase wages for these critical staff is an important step toward ensuring a stable and dependable workforce is in place to assist this population and their families.”

Thomas Baffuto – The Arc of NJ

“Freehold Borough has been advocating hard in the last five years to resolve underfunding in state aid.  The FY19 budget bill passed by the Senate and Assembly addresses our needs.  It is designed to lead to full funding, without aid growth caps and eliminating adjustment aid over a seven year period.  This budget plan would move Freehold Borough immediately from 45% state aid to 58% state aid and provide the structure to get us to fully funded in seven years time.  It would also allow us to give relief to Borough taxpayers who are currently paying two million dollars more in taxes above fair share.  We support the SFRA law and we acknowledge this budget bill as the most comprehensive plan yet to provide equity and fairness to our students and all the other underfunded students in the state.”

Rocco G. Tomazic, Ed.D., Superintendent, Freehold Borough

“Funding for sheltered employment MUST be preserved for the thousands of individuals in NJ with severe disabilities.  To deny this option for our most vulnerable citizens is reprehensible.  To do so is not only morally wrong, it is economically short sighted.  The legislature already recognizes the importance of dignity and a paycheck for the people we serve.  Our Governor needs to remember the faces of the people at Abilities Solutions who are counting on him.”  

Susan Perron – Abilities Solutions

We are grateful that the legislature continues to support the work Volunteers of America Delaware Valley does to help over 3,000 individuals gain employment, find housing, get schooling, get jobs, and receive treatment.  The restoration of $8 million in vital state funding for this year’s budget truly demonstrates their understanding of the important work we do.  It is our sincere hope that Governor Murphy maintains our funding in the budget so we may continue to serve the underserved and save taxpayer dollars thereby continuing our state’s well-earned national reputation of being pioneers in prison reform and reduction. 

Dan Lombardo – Volunteers of America Delaware Valley