Christie’s Veto Stymies Newark’s Plan To Boost Local Hiring: Report

NEWARK, NJ — The stage was set for Newark city officials to launch a unique plan to hand out tax cuts to businesses that employed local workers. And then Governor Chris Christie got word of the plan.

Recently, Christie conditionally vetoed the city’s plan to waive its 1 percent payroll taxes for any Newark resident that local businesses employ, as long as the business hires at least 50 percent local, NJ.com reported.

The payroll tax ordinance was passed during the council’s Jan. 19 meeting. City Council President Mildred Crump called it “an incentive to Newark corporations to hire Newarkers.”

• See related article: Newark Businesses That Employ Local Workers Will Get Tax Cuts

Christie wrote that he supported the intention, but could not allow the city to "act irresponsibly while receiving significant taxpayer-funded aid.”

Read the full ordinance here.

Photo: Flickr Commons

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