Building Small Businesses

"50% of all jobs come from small businesses. Most small business owners live the job. They don't have time to conduct a lengthy hiring search or find the government agency responsible for the advice, permit or financing they need. We are going to provide that help with new business outreach centers that will serve every county. To meet their needs for skilled labor, we are reserving 15% of all workforce training grants for small business."

Investing In The Future

"To compete with Massachusetts and California, the research in our public universities must become a catalyst for the private sector. Today, I am proposing the creation of three Innovation Zones that will build industry clusters around our research universities that will attract the fastest-growing and highest paying industries."

Increase Productivity And Improve Our Workforce

"We have to make sure our high schools, our system of higher education, the private sector and government all work together to improve workforce development. There are 27 programs in three departments. We need one department, with one mission that can deliver a seamless web of services to employees and employers. Today, I have presented a plan to the Legislature to re-structure workforce development in New Jersey through a single department – the new Department of Labor and Workforce Development."

Property Tax Relief

"There is something we can do right now for property taxpayers – we can pass impact fee property tax relief legislation. It is time for developers and not local property taxpayers to pay for the cost of new development. Developers make the profit and communities pay the costs. So I ask you again, send me legislation that puts the cost of new development where it belongs and we will east the property tax burden on the residents of this state."

Controlling School Taxes

"The status quo on school and local government property taxes cannot continue. We spend more than $17 billion a year on education, more per student than any other state. But we don't spend it efficiently. We don't spend it where it matters – in the classroom. I think it's outrageous that we have 23 school bureaucracies that don't have a single school. Do we really need 172 school districts with only one school? I have directed Commissioner Librera to take five immediate steps. Develop a plan to eliminate the 23 school districts that oversee nothing but their own existence; Require the 172 one-building school districts to find ways to consolidate services; Establish limits on administrative and non-instructional costs and a system of rewards for districts that meet these statndars and sanctions for those that do not; Provide performance grants to school districts who demonstrate excellence in student achievement while maintaining low administrative costs; Require towns, school districts, and county governments to deliver services and purchase products together."

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