Budget Woes: Wait and See

by: Sharon GR

Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 04:01:05 PM EST

The Quinnipiac poll numbers from yesterday show that we're worried about the budget: 54% see very serious problems in our budget, 38% see somewhat serious ones. In general, we'd rather see services cut than our taxes raised, 57% to 28%. And we absolutely don't want a gas tax, even if it's to fix up the roads: 69% oppose that (increased 12 points from the same time last year.)

So, what are we gonna do about it?

Sharon GR :: Budget Woes: Wait and See

Well, according to Gov. Corzine's budget advisory group, we have to consider expanding the state sales tax to include previously exempt sales (such as tanning salons and limo services,) implementing a temporary income tax surcharge, and:

For this fiscal year, to ensure state spending remains balanced, the group's
proposal includes requiring state departments to cut budgets, freeze work-force
levels, slice salaries of nonunion employees, mandate a week off without pay for
state workers and prepare layoff plans.

The unions flipped out about the week off w/o pay. Carla Katz (you may remember her, she's president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest state employee union) said "That's a pay cut as far as we're concerned, and we would vehemently oppose a program like that." And the Repubs were quick to condemn also; "I am disappointed by the direction this report has taken. It fails to consider the consequences of adding to the tax burden on New Jersey's families." said Sen. Peter Inverso, R-Hamilton.

I'm not ready to throw stones yet. First, it's a draft report, not strong recommendation. That will come, however. Second, let's see what parts of it actually get proposed as law. (That temporary income tax thing will never pass- really, who believes it would actually be temporary?)

The new Governor now has to reconcile his committee's proposal with the polls showing what residents of Our Fair State want, while remembering that he has the tough decisions of who gets how much of what they want. Before the Repubs and the Unions bring out the torches and pitchforks, let's see what happens next.

(cross-posted at Center of NJ Life)

Tags: Peter Inverso, Carla Katz, Jon Corzine, budget, taxes, Quinnipiac poll, (All Tags)

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Budget Woes: Wait and See | 2 comments

Limos and Tanning Salons (0.00 / 0)

are not going to save this state's budget long-terms. Most importantly, they won't generate the $ needed to help with property tax rebates.

The Florio Syndrome has crippled Democrats. But I really think Florio's problem was he didn't sell it as a property tax reduction package. If this governor can get property tax relief to residents - and that really has to come in the form of increased aid to towns, he can take some heat on other taxes.

It's robbing Peter to Pay Paul. But Peter can handle it much better than crippled and overburdened Paul.

myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.blogspot.com

by: underdogdemocrat @ Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 21:45:11 PM UTC

Budget Fears and Woes... (0.00 / 0)

Its amazing to read the draconian measure Gov. Corzine's group has proposed. Of course I see a lot of gnashing of teeth and wailing coming from all corners in NJ state government.

However, if the Assembly and State Senate really had wanted to save money for the people in NJ they would have frozen spending. They failed to do that, and filled the budget with local goodies to make sure they were back in office.

I feel the biggest problem, will be the money addicted State Senate and Assembly. They want money to either pay their pet projects or repay their supporters.

One proposal Gov. Jon Corzine would be to demand all state workers to use 10 days of their vacation time so that the vacation time account would be decreased by ten days. In that manner, the salary money would have been saved. Of course the forced vacation time may be considered a hardship, but then, that is what most industries have done before.

Next, the Senate and Assembly must learn to say no when it comes to pension dole outs for those not yet covered by the pension. Why is an Assemblyman pushing full steam ahead to put Fire Marshalls on the state pension role, rather than their current pension? Because the state pension is more generous. Is that right for our Assembly who is supposed to watch out money now giving it away.

The real budget problem is not so much revenues, but rather the addicts in the Assembly and State Senate. Its a shame Gov. Corzines's group failed to also pust the salaries of the Assembly and State Senate to be decreased by $10,000. Oh by the way, it was done in the Florio days.

by: IceNeedle @ Sat Jan 28, 2006 at 00:27:13 AM UTC