ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Republican state lawmaker who represents several towns in Essex County is criticizing Gov. Mikie Sherrill's first-ever budget, accusing her of breaking her "no-pork promise" about last-minute additions to the annual spending bill.
Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (NJ-40) was joined by his GOP colleague – Republican budget officer Brian Rumpf (NJ-9) – in a call for tighter spending on Tuesday.
According to the two legislators, the budget resolutions for both the appropriations act and the supplemental spending bill are now public, more than seven weeks after Sherrill signed them into law. The resolutions are the official record of how tax dollars are divided among specific programs and initiatives after a budget is signed.
Data shows that nearly $490 million of "pork projects" were loaded into the budget after it was initially announced, DePhillips and Rumpf said.
The resolutions show 488 changes to the governor's proposed budget, with 413 of them increasing spending: 338 of them in the budget bill and 75 in the supplemental spending bill. New or increased appropriations in the budget bill total roughly $370 million, while the supplemental bill, a vehicle used to move discretionary spending outside the normal budget process, adds another $120 million on top of that.
Sherrill referenced pork barrel spending – the use of earmarked funds on local projects that don't benefit the state as a whole – during her budget address in March.
"Our work starts by ending previous administrations' bad habit of tacking last-minute giveaways onto each budget," she said. "These days, we simply can't afford that."
DePhillips and Rumpf said the money trail is painting a different picture.
DePhillips, the Republican conference leader, pointed to the budget's $6 billion surplus, comparing it to the $490 million in additional spending that crept into the state spending plan before it crossed the finish line.
"You cannot claim a surplus with one hand while handing out half a billion dollars in favors with the other," charged DePhillips, who represents towns including Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell.
"Every dollar spent on a pet project is a dollar that did not go toward property tax relief or paying down the deficit," he said.
Rumpf also said taxpayers "deserve a straight answer" about why hometown projects keep taking priority over property tax relief.
"The governor stood in the Assembly chamber and promised to end Christmas tree spending," the assemblyman said. "Then she signed a budget with more than half a billion dollars of it anyway."
ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATS: 'RESPONSIBLE GOVERNING'
On the flip side of the coin, two Essex County Democrats heavily involved in this year's budget talks said the state's latest spending plan is a big win for New Jersey.
Eliana Pintor Marin, who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee, said this year's budget is "what responsible governing looks like."
"Through months of hearings, conversations, and collaboration, we delivered a fiscally responsible budget that protects New Jersey's financial future while continuing to support children, seniors, and working families that strengthen our state," Pintor Marin said.
"Behind every number is a person, and this budget never loses sight of that," the assemblywoman added.
Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz also said the budget is a good deal for New Jersey.
"After months of collaboration and public feedback, we've delivered another full pension payment, the largest property tax relief program in state history, and significantly increased the child tax credit to help working families build greater financial stability," Ruiz said.
Pintor Marin and Ruiz both represent the state's 29th district, which includes Newark.
According to the governor's office, some highlights of the fiscal year 2027 budget include:
Property Tax Relief – The budget has record property tax relief totaling over $4.1 billion. This includes $2.1 billion for ANCHOR, $345 million for Senior Freeze, and $756 million for Stay NJ.
Schools – The budget includes $12.4 billion for K-12 schools, a $370 million increase over last year's funding and the most in state history. The budget also includes a record $1.4 billion for preschool education aid.
Child Tax Credit – New Jersey's Child Tax Credit will be increased by 25 percent.
Pensions – The budget includes $7.3 billion for the state's pension system, marking the sixth consecutive full payment.
Transportation – The budget includes nearly $1.1 billion in state operating support for NJ Transit, an increase of $235 million (or 28 percent). The budget also includes $1.3 billion for "critical investments in state, local highway and bridge projects."
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