Governor Again Sides with Millionaires
(18th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. and Peter J. Barnes III on Friday noted a nonpartisan analysis shows Gov. Chris Christie cost 18th District taxpayers $30.9 million in school aid when he used vetoes on the Democratic budget plan.
The Democratic budget plan supported by Diegnan and Barnes (both D-Middlesex) would have provided nearly $95.6 million in school aid to the 18th District, but Christie, through his vetoes, cut that amount by 32.3 percent.
“The governor’s cuts are devastating to Middlesex County taxpayers,” Diegnan said. “We value education and property tax relief, but this governor would rather support tax cuts for 16,000 millionaires throughout New Jersey. Our children and taxpayers deserve better.”
“It’s astounding that this governor slashed school aid for 18th District taxpayers by 32.3 percent,” Barnes said. “That’s a harsh message from our governor to working class families struggling to make ends meet. Education and property tax relief need to always be our priority, not tax cuts for millionaires.”
Among those hardest hit by the governor’s cuts were Edison, which lost 45.1 percent; South Plainfield, which lost 39.9 percent; South River, which lost 33.3 percent; and East Brunswick, which lost 24.3 percent.
“Our budget plan aimed to provide adequate education aid and property tax relief to suburban and rural taxpayers who have received short-thrift from this governor,” Diegnan said. “Unfortunately, the governor targeted the 18th District for significant cuts instead.”
“Suburban and rural taxpayers have once again been unfairly targeted by this governor,” Barnes said.