New Developments On $235M Frozen By NJ Gov. Phil Murphy

NEW JERSEY – New Jersey officials are signaling that they could finally free up millions of dollars that were frozen during a summer budget battle – a development that could have a big impact on a number of towns, colleges and roads.

Department of Treasury officials said this week that some of the frozen money could soon be released that could help fund 64 items – all of which would be useful for millions of New Jersey residents (see list of items below).

“As we have said to legislative leadership, based on preliminary data, we hope to be able to release some of the reserve funding soon," Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said in a statement. "We also made multiple requests to Senate leadership for additional information that could help us in managing the reserve list, given that details on many of the legislative spending additions have been completely lacking in some cases up to this point."

“We are constantly monitoring the state’s fiscal situation and have asked every state agency to keep us informed of any imminent needs or hardships that might arise in relation to spending items under their purview that have been placed in reserve," she added. "Should we get to a point in the fiscal year where the assumed savings the Legislature included in their budget have not materialized and we determine that any aid recipients are facing an imminent hardship, we have the option of releasing funding and placing other discretionary spending items into reserve in order to maintain the targeted surplus level.”

It wasn't immediately clear what items could be funded.

The Murphy administration froze $235 million in spending during the summer since Gov. Phil Murphy failed to get what he's long sought for in the 2020 budget: a millionaire's tax.

Murphy signed the 2020 budget in June after a protracted, acrimonious battle between himself and Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who vehemently opposed the millionaire's tax.

Murphy gave up the battle on the tax but continued the war with Sweeney by promising to take actions of "fiscal responsibility that were lacking in the Legislature’s spending plan and set up New Jersey to better weather a possible future economic downturn."

"We must be honest about its shortfalls: This is a budget that does not include tax fairness, does not ask opioid manufacturers to help fund addiction services, and does not raise gun fees that have been untouched since 1966," he said. "These common-sense revenues would have allowed us to save for a rainy day and sustainably fund necessary investments for New Jersey’s 9 million residents. Make no mistake, I will continue fighting for tax fairness and fiscal responsibility well beyond (the) budget actions.”

Sweeney, in response, said the governor's freeze on items in the budget "is a shameless act of political retribution that is both petty and vindictive – it’s Bridgegate on steroids that punishes those who disagree."

“This is an abuse of gubernatorial power that victimizes some of the neediest and most vulnerable people in New Jersey, including cancer patients, the hungry, senior citizens, college students and those struggling to overcome substance abuse problems," he said.

In Julu, the Department of the Treasury released the list of spending items that have been placed into reserve pursuant to Executive Order No. 73 signed by Murphy.

“As directed by the Governor, we have compiled a list of appropriation items that have been placed in reserve until further notice,” said David Ridolfino, acting director of Treasury’s Office of Management and Budget. “As noted in the Executive Order, the items placed in reserve will help the state maintain the surplus goals outlined by the governor. Our review, pursuant to Executive Order 73, is ongoing and will continue as new or additional information regarding individual items of appropriation is available.”

Here were the 64 items that were frozen:

• Hunters Helping the Hungry $100,000
• Jersey Fresh $100,000
• NJ Hemp Farming Fund $500,000
• Belleville Twp Recreation Program $125,000
• Bergen Family Center Teen Center $120,000
• Bergenfield Borough Pedestrian Safety Improvements $50,000
• East Brunswick Senior Center $750,000
• Ewing Twp Roadway Improvements $1 million
• Fair Lawn Borough Pedestrian Safety Improvements $50,000
• Franklin Twp Stream Restoration $1.1 million
• Hamilton Twp (Mercer) Fire District Consolidation (PTRF) $2 million
• International Youth Organization $100,000
• Irvington Twp Camp Irvington Repair and Redevelopment $3 million
• Little Ferry Borough Traffic Study $50,000
• Morris Canal Park, Jersey City $250,000
• New Jersey Re-Entry Corporation $1 million
• NJ Hall of Fame Foundation $2.5 million
• NJSHARES S.M.A.R.T. Program $1 million
• Perth Amboy Green Infrastructure $250,000
• Sayreville Borough - Bailey Park Improvements $500,000
• South Amboy Intermodal Transit Village $1 million
• Transitional Aid to Localities (PTRF) $104.825 million
• Turtle Back Zoo $4 million
• Volunteers of America - Re-Entry Services $1 million
• Essex County Recidivism Pilot Program $6 million
• Essex County-County Jail Substance Use Disorder Programs (PTRF) $20 million
• Union County Inmate Rehabilitation Services (PTRF) $3.5 million
• Governor's Literacy Initiative $125,000
• Grants for Urban Parks (PTRF) $4 million
• Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck - Palliative Care Pilot Program $3 million
• North Jersey Community Research Initiative $75,000
• South Jersey Cancer Program - Camden (Cooper) $15.4 million
• New Jersey Elder Index $200,000
• SNAP Administration (PTRF) - Essex County $7 million
• Essex Crime Prevention (PTRF) $3 million
• Broadcast Technology Improvements $350,000
• The Council of State Governments $200,000
• Battleship NJ Museum $1 million
• Carteret Arts Center $1 million
• College Bound $800,000
• Cooper Medical School of Rowan University $7 million
• CREATE - Rowan University $2 million
• Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission $100,000
• Long Branch Historical Museum - Chapel Restoration $250,000
• Montclair State University - General Operations $7.503 million
• NJ Agricultural Experiment Station $3 million
• NJ Civic Information Consortium $1 million
• NJ Historic Commission - Celebration of America $300,000
• NJCU - Fort Monmouth Campus $1 million
• Ramapo College - General Operations $1 million
• Rowan/Cooper Medical School Operations Support $5 million
• Rutgers Equine Science Center Operating Support $95,000
• Rutgers New Brunswick School of Engineering - Equipment $2.5 million
• Rutgers University - Camden-Mental Health and Well Being $170,000
• Rutgers/Rowan Joint Board RU Camden Business School $3 million
• Stockton University - General Operations $4.612 million
• The College of NJ - General Operations $1 million
• Thomas Edison University - General Operations $1 million
• Brown Ave/Rt 206, Hillsboro - Large Truck Bypass $500,000
• I-287 Access Ramps from Rt 27 Final Design Costs $450,000
• Restoration of East Orange Train Stations $1 million
• Rt 440, Bayonne - Pedestrian Safety Improvements $250,000
• Rt 46/Rt 93 Intersection, Ridgefield - Traffic Study $250,000
• Aid to Independent Colleges and Universities $1 million