Gov. Chris Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, earned $449,607 in 2010, down from $544,047 in 2009, according to a joint tax return released by the couple today
Gov. Chris Christie is shown with his wife, Mary Pat, in this file photo. The family earned nearly $100,000 less last year than they did in 2009, according to tax returns released today.TRENTON — It was a down year for New Jersey's first family.
Gov. Chris Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, earned $449,607 in 2010, down from $544,047 in 2009, according to a joint tax return released by the couple today.
Even though Christie went from unemployed to the governor's office last year, the first lady's earnings at the Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald fell by almost half.
Accordingly, the Christies paid less in federal income taxes: $116,072, rather than $147,118.
The governor's salary is $175,000. The first lady's income from Cantor Fitzgerald was $264,681. That's about half her earnings of $517,240 in 2009.
The first family's income from taxable interest fell to $6,875 from $9,666 last year. But its earnings from capital gains increased to $8,116.
The Christies also said they gave $22,496 in charitable gifts last year, up from $20,481 in 2009.
They received a filing extension before the April 15 tax deadline. Unlike past administrations, the governor's office would not release the extension form at the time.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and her husband, Michael, also released their income tax returns today. Their earnings decreased slightly last year, to $307,540 from $317,056 in 2009.
You can view Christie's income tax return here, and Guadagno's return here.
Related coverage:
• N.J. Gov. Chris Christie breaks Tax Day tradition of releasing personal finances
• GOP candidate Chris Christie discloses 2008 earnings
• Gov. Christie's tax returns show nearly $100K increase in income