|
 TRENTON
- State Treasurer John E. McCormac announced today New Jersey’s
job growth under Governor McGreevey, fourth best in the nation and
outpacing all regional states combined over the last year, has yielded
better-than anticipated revenue growth and improved the State’s
financial stability as it prepares to enter a new fiscal year with
a new budget.
Treasurer
McCormac this week will update revenues for FY 2004 and FY 2005 and
present
the administration’s recommended budget changes,
which will include additional funding for property tax relief and other
priorities. Full details of the revisions will be released to the Legislature
when the Treasurer testifies before both budget committees tomorrow
and Thursday.
“Under Governor McGreevey’s leadership, New Jersey’s
improving economy continues to deliver healthy, steady growth in revenues
to the State budget,” said Treasurer McCormac, noting that revenue
growth above projections in the proposed budget has been fueled by
better returns in all three big taxes -- Gross Income, Sales and Corporation
Business taxes, particularly during the pivotal spring collection period. “The
revenue growth is testament to the Governor’s economic policies,
which have created more than 54,000 jobs in the last year, making New
Jersey a national leader in job creation and business investment. The
McGreevey Administration’s objective is to return the rewards
of our budget and economic policies to New Jersey citizens quickly
and in a fiscally responsible manner,” he said.
“While the increased revenue is excellent news, we recognize
the need to plan with due caution because the growth rate, although
steady, is likely to level off in the months ahead. The adjustments
we’re recommending address immediate and priority needs without
over-projecting the revenue stream and committing it to higher, recurring
spending. We know from experiences in the recent past that this fiscal
policy can be a recipe for disaster. We clearly must also boost the
surplus to a level more appropriate for a budget of this size,” he
said.
Treasurer
McCormac said total revenues will be revised upward by approximately
$511
million in the current fiscal year and $181 million for FY 2005.
Treasurer McCormac will recommend that a large portion of the increase
be earmarked for the budget surplus. “This administration has
built the surplus from zero to $400 million over the last two years.
Despite this progress, the surplus is too small for the proposed budget.
The improved revenues will help New Jersey build a larger and safer
fiscal cushion for the next fiscal year while also addressing property
tax relief and other priorities,” he said.
|