Governor Murphy's Budget Puts Working Families First

Governor Murphy gave his first budget address to the people of New Jersey this week and it demonstrates that his administration is ready to make good on the promise to get New Jersey’s economy moving again. The Governor presented a responsible budget that includes significant investments in good jobs, education, career training, health care, and fully fund the state pension system.

Some of the highlights include:

  • Significant revenue enhancements that will help fund the services that our members provide to the people in New Jersey and their communities.
  • An increase in school funding for 94% of the school districts in New Jersey.
  • Taking steps to strengthen our pension system by making the largest payment to the system in decades.
  • Earlier this month, Governor Murphy saved local and county governments' approximately $422.5 million in pension costs, and the state government approximately $390.3 million by reversing Chris Christie’s last minute action to reduce the rate of return on the pension system. Without this action, our members at the local, county, and state levels would have felt the pinch of having their budgets slashed. 

The next step will be for the Assembly and Senate budget committees to hold budget hearings from March through May. Traditionally, the Legislature presents the governor with a budget bill by mid-June. 

AFSCME New Jersey strongly supports the Governor’s budget and we will be asking you to show support for his budget during this process. We will keep you informed of the progress of the budget process as it develops.

To read the official budget overview directly from the Governor's Office, click here.