TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie fired the first salvo in the budget battle today, siding with the treasurer’s less optimistic revenue estimates and restricting how much money Democrats can spend under their own budget proposal. Democratic leaders in the Senate and the Assembly were planning on using the higher revenue estimated offered by independent legislative analysts to restore the...
Governor Chris Christie speaks during a Town Hall meeting in Fair Lawn earlier this week. He's made his first decision in the budget battle today, restricting the amount of money Democrats can spend in their own budget proposal.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie fired the first salvo in the budget battle today, siding with the treasurer’s less optimistic revenue estimates and restricting how much money Democrats can spend under their own budget proposal.
Democratic leaders in the Senate and the Assembly were planning on using the higher revenue estimated offered by independent legislative analysts to restore the governor’s cuts to education, tax relief for the elderly and Medicaid.
It’s not immediately clear how the governor’s decision will effect those plans.
“Following modest revenue estimates that are based in reality is the only responsible course to avoid the same type of panicked, mid-year cuts that have plagued overly optimistic budget projections in prior years, “ Christie said in a news release. “That is our limit and our guidepost in developing a responsible, balanced and constitutional state budget.”
Last month, the David Rosen, budget officer with the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services, estimated that the state would see $913 million in unexpected revenue through June of 2012.
State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff offered a less-optimistic figure of roughly $500 million.
Previous Coverage:
• N.J. Assembly passes landmark employee benefits overhaul
• NJ unions rally in Trenton, Assembly votes on pension and health benefit overhaul - live coverage
• Health and pension overhaul clears N.J. Assembly Budget Committee