New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed the state’s $56.6 billion budget for FY 2025, which includes significant tax increases on large corporations, substantial funding for property tax relief, public schools, pensions, and community projects. This budget aims to address several pressing financial needs while investing in the state’s future.
New Jersey’s $56.6 Billion State Budget
Governor Phil Murphy has officially signed a $56.6 billion state budget that includes a substantial tax hike on large corporations to fund public transportation.
Starting July 1, corporations with profits over $10 million will be subject to a new 2.5% tax, in addition to the existing 9% corporate business tax rate, making New Jersey’s business taxes the highest in the nation. This new tax aims to generate revenue to support NJ Transit, which faces a nearly billion-dollar funding gap.
New Tax on Large Corporations to Fund Public Transportation
One of the most notable aspects of this budget is the new 2.5% tax on corporations with profits exceeding $10 million. This tax, retroactive to January 1, 2024, will sunset after five years.
The revenue from this tax will help bridge the funding gap for NJ Transit. Governor Murphy acknowledged the difficulty of imposing this tax but emphasized the necessity of addressing fiscal challenges within the state’s resources. Business groups have opposed the tax, arguing it is punitive, retroactive, and potentially harmful to employers.
Property Tax Relief and Community Investments
The budget also focuses on providing substantial property tax relief. The ANCHOR program will continue to offer homeowners rebates of up to $1,750 and renters up to $700. Additionally, $220 million is set aside for the StayNJ program, aiming to cut property taxes for seniors by half starting in 2026.
Further budget allocations include:
- A roughly $7 billion pension payment for public workers.
- $12 billion for public education, marking the first fully funded school funding formula.
- Funding for direct property tax relief programs such as ANCHOR.
Addressing Educational and Community Needs
The budget responds to demands from educational institutions by providing $20 million in additional funds for New Jersey’s 18 community colleges and an extra $70 million for public universities.
Nursing homes will receive $586 million from Medicaid, a $37.2 million increase over the previous year, with the Legislature adding $30 million to Governor Murphy’s initial proposal.
Additionally, nearly $700 million in pork-barrel spending will fund various local projects, including recreational improvements, school construction, crisis centers, and soup kitchens.
Transit Tax and Business Reactions
The new 2.5% corporate transit fee aims to generate $1 billion annually for NJ Transit, though the funds will not be available until next summer.
This fee has sparked debate among business leaders, who argue it could drive companies out of state. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association have voiced strong opposition, urging policymakers to adopt more business-friendly policies.
Legislative Process and Partisan Debate
The budget process involved extensive negotiations and debates. Governor Murphy’s signature capped five months of discussions, with the final budget including several last-minute additions.
The plan, which spends $2.1 billion more than it collects in revenue, was criticized by Republicans for relying on deficit spending and drawing from the surplus fund. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin defended the budget, stating it keeps the promises made to the people of New Jersey.
While the budget has received mixed reactions, it demonstrates a strong effort to tackle the state’s financial problems and improve public services for the people of New Jersey.
