Do You Work In N.J.? Tax Reciprocity Decision Expected By Friday

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has until Friday to decide if he'll end the Pennsylvania-New Jersey Tax Reciprocity Agreement.

Local lawmakers are urging Christie to continue the long-standing tax agreement between the two states.

“Governor Christie is going after Pennsylvanians as a cash grab. A New Jersey exit from this agreement would blow up tens of thousands of household budgets here in Bucks County, just when we are recovering from the recession," said State Rep. Steve Santarsiero.

According to U.S. Census data, more than 46,000 Bucks County residents work in New Jersey and would be impacted by Christie’s proposal by having to pay New Jersey’s progressive income tax rate instead of Pennsylvanians flat income tax rate, according to information from Santarsiero's office.

“Governor Christie has until Friday to make up his mind, and I urge him to do the right thing and not subject thousands upon thousands of Pennsylvanians to the will of a governor they didn’t elect,” Santarsiero said in a statement. “Balancing New Jersey’s books on the backs of hardworking Pennsylvanians is unfair and uncalled for.”

Santarsiero said he has also presented the signatures of more than 3,500 Pennsylvanians who want to keep the reciprocity agreement in place.

“We’ve only been collecting signatures online for a short period of time, but the response has been overwhelming and the results are clear,” Santarsiero said.

Christie is reportedly close to making a decision, and must decide by Friday, Sept. 2.

A New Jersey exit from the agreement could take as little as 120 days and does not require legislative action from either state, Santarsiero's office said.