BUONO - MORE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OVERTIME NEEDED IN HUMAN SERVICES

TRENTON – Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, co-Chair of the Legislative Joint Budget Oversight Committee (JBOC), issued the following statement today after a committee meeting during which the State Department of Human Services requested a transfer of funds to pay for unanticipated overtime expenditures:

“The Department of Human Services’ transfer requests are a perennial occurrence. Year after year, following the Governor’s approval of a new budget, JBOC has been asked to grant Human Services’ funding requests to continue operations at State developmental centers, psychiatric hospitals or to meet some other unanticipated cost.

RUIZ STATEMENT ON APPROVAL OF FY 2009 BUDGET

TRENTON – Senator Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, and a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the approval today of the FY 2009 Budget:

“Today, the Senate approved the FY 2009 Budget, and made a strong statement about the State’s priorities, even in tough economic times.

Senator Jennifer Beck talks about a plan to avoid toll and tax increases on new SenateNJ.com video.

BUONO WELCOMES REPUBLICAN SUGGESTIONS TO BUDGET DISCUSSION

Budget Committee Chair Says Some Items Already Have Bipartisan Support

TRENTON – Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman, Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, issued the following statement today in response to Republican suggestions for alternatives to Governor Corzine’s proposed FY 2009 Budget:

“When Democrats and Republicans work together, we can accomplish great things for the State of New Jersey, just as we did with the bipartisan school funding law that increased funding in an equitable way to our local school districts by $600 million. As we consider the FY 2009 Budget, we must come together, in the spirit of bipartisanship, to approve a spending plan which changes the course for Trenton, and curbs a dangerous spending habit which has sent government in New Jersey spiraling out of control.

SARLO - STATE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO RESTORE MUNICIPAL AID

Senator Says CMPTRA Fund Restorations, Taken From Other Municipal Aid Programs, Do Not Help

TRENTON – Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman, Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, issued the following statement after hearing from State Treasurer David Rousseau about the state of current budget cuts, particularly in regards to the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) program, during an update on the FY 2009 Budget:

“While I’m happy that the Administration has at least shown a willingness to restore some of the deep cuts in CMPTRA aid which will translate to substantial property tax increases for homeowners in small towns, the proposed restorations do not go far enough.

MEDIA ADVISORY - SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE TO RECEIVE REVISED REVENUE ESTIMATES TUESDAY

TRENTON – On Tuesday, May 13, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear testimony from State Treasurer David Rousseau and the Office of Legislative Services concerning revised revenue estimates for the FY 2008 and FY 2009 State Budgets.

According to Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, State revenue is mostly comprised of three major taxes – the State income tax, sales tax and corporation business tax. Each Spring, the Budget Committee conducts hearings to review different facets of the Governor’s fiscal year spending plan, and the impact of the budget on individual State departments. The culmination of those review hearings is a revised revenue presentation by the Treasurer and legislative budget analysts in May, based on information provided by tax collections in April.

VITALE - WRONG TIME TO DIVERT MEDICAID AND FAMILY CARE SURPLUS

Senator Notes Number One Concern for Residents During Recession is Affording Health Care

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and author of a plan to make affordable health care coverage available to the uninsured, issued the following statement after today’s Committee hearing on the FY 2009 Department of Human Services budget, and plans to tap into Medicaid and FamilyCare fund surpluses for the State’s general operating expenses:

“In New Jersey and across the country, people are facing an extraordinarily uncertain economic future. A national recession and a devalued dollar have forced families around the Garden State to make difficult choices about which bills to pay, and which to put off.

SARLO - NJ SHOULD SEEK EFFICIENCIES IN DEP, AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENTS

TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, the Vice Chair of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after the panel’s hearing on the FY 2009 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Budget, and the need to seek efficiencies in DEP and Agriculture programs, even if the consolidation of the Agriculture Department into DEP doesn’t take place:

SWEENEY, OROHO: HAVE EVERY COMMUNITY THAT BENEFITS CONTRIBUTE TO STATE POLICE BUDGET

Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Senator Steven Oroho (R-24), members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, made this statement after hearing testimony before the committee about the governor’s proposal to charge residents of 89 municipalities extra fees for the cost of State Police protection:

SENATOR VITALE STATEMENT ON BUDGET HEARING ON DEPT. OF HEALTH

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale, D-Middlesex, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and author of a health care reform plan to ensure affordable health care for all New Jersey residents, issued the following statement regarding today’s hearing on the FY 2009 Budget of the State Department of Health and Senior Services: