Statement on Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget by Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association:
“This is a responsible budget that will support sustained growth in our economy and a continued increase in jobs.
“It meets our obligations to schools and to property taxpayers with $13.8 billion in education aid, and maintains state aid to municipalities, even as it holds the line on spending overall.
“The Governor’s budget meets our obligation to the public employee pension system with another large contribution from the state. In all, the $8.8 billion the Administration will have contributed to the pension system is two-and-a-half times the contributions of the last five administrations combined.
“Additionally, the Governor proposed an interesting idea to address the unfunded liability in the pension system by transferring the Lottery Enterprise to eligible pension plans. We look forward to learning more about this initiative.
“New Jersey has made tremendous strides in the last eight years. Governor Christie’s proposed budget is a blueprint for keeping the state economy on the right track in the future.”
