THE CORZINE BUDGET WILL MAKE NEW JERSEY UNAFFORDABLE FOR EVEN MORE FAMILIES!
Governor Jon Corzine proposed budget for the 2006-2007 fiscal year increases state spending, hikes taxes and guarantees higher property taxes. The record-shattering $30.9 billion budget is nearly $3 billion higher than this year’s budget. That’s a 10% spending increase in a single year! HIGHER SALES TAXES! An increase in the sales tax from 6% to 7% and an expansion of the sales tax base to include a whole host of additional items including landscaping, health club memberships, music and video downloads, electronic data access, shipping and handling, tanning salons, carpet cleaning, air charter flights and parking ... even bail bondsmen. LESS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF! Corzine promised to restore rebates to the amount they were at ($600) before being cut in half last year by Governor Codey and the Democrat-controlled Legislature. He said he would then increase them by 10% each year for four years. Corzine now says he will not restore rebates to the higher level but that he will increase their size by a miniscule amount. HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES! The Corzine budget freezes or cuts state aid for schools and municipalities. This practically guarantees a 7% or 8% increase in property taxes. Thanks to the irresponsible fiscal practices of the Democrats, property taxes have already risen nearly 30% over the past four years! BOGUS BUDGET CUTS! Corzine says his budget contains no “pork.” However, the governor wouldn’t say whether he would line item veto any “pork” added to the budget by the Democrats in the Legislature. Other “cuts” in his budget aren’t really cuts at all. They are actually proposing to “restrain the growth in expenditures.” HIGHER COLLEGE TUITION! The Corzine budget slashes state aid for higher education by $170 million. Officials for many state colleges and universities are already warning of double-digit tuition increases! This would hit middle income families the hardest! It may force a lot of families to look for more affordable colleges outside of New Jersey. TAXES, TAXES AND MORE TAXES! - A 4-cent per 1,000 gallon water tax.
- A 5-cent per gallon beer tax.
- A 10-cent per gallon tax on wine or liquor.
- A 35-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax.
- A 2.5% corporation business tax surcharge.
- A new tax on mid-sized and “luxury” cars with sticker prices over $45,000 and cars that get less than 15 miles per gallon.
§ A new tax on the transfer of commercial property. § A $2 per prescription co-pay up to $10 per month for Medicaid and dual eligible recipients.
Assemblyman Steve Corodemus - 40 First Avenue P.O. Box 266, Atlantic Highlands (732)708-0900 |
