A budget for Fiscal Year 2020 has passed in New Jersey’s Senate and Assembly. The bill now goes to Governor Murphy’s desk for his signature or veto. The budget does not conform to Governor Murphy’s proposed budget, omitting his long-championed millionaire’s tax and $30 million in aid to Lakewood’s school district and education programs. The Assembly passed the spending bill by a vote of 53-24, while the Senate passed the bill by a final tally of 66-5, with Senator Robert Singer, who represents Lakewood, voting in favor of its passage.
Governor Murphy has not said whether he will veto the budget, but his office has made it clear that he is displeased with it. Murphy has held multiple events in the past several weeks where he called upon Democrats to support his proposals, but to no avail. Democrats earlier this week chose to move forward with their own budget.
It is highly likely that instead of vetoing the entire budget, Murphy will veto sections of it, sending it back to legislators to amend to his liking. If the governor and lawmakers cannot make a deal agreeable to both sides by the beginning of the new fiscal year, the government would shut down. The new fiscal year begins on July 1st.
The budget passed today is highly detrimental to Lakewood due to it’s removal of funding that is vital to Lakewood being able to continue providing a high level of education to it’s students. On Thursday morning, a second emergency motion was filed in court to block the funding that has been promised to Lakewood’s schools.
I would like to assume that Senator Singer is not opposed to $30 million for Lakewood. Or is he?
He did not vote for the marijuana bill. Does not make sense given that the $30 million was on the table. Why should any legislator help Lakewood?
Time to put Republicans in the house, and start discussing common sense issues.
Easy decision for Singer. Proposed budget includes extension of the LSTA for nonpublic student transportation. The $30 million was for public schools.