Garden State Times

Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman Paul Kanitra have voiced strong criticism against Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats over the FY2025 budget. The lawmakers argue that the budget neglects schools while squandering funds on unnecessary projects.

"This year's budget represents another missed opportunity from Trenton Democrats to address the critical flaws of the State's school funding formula," said Sen. Holzapfel. "Instead of working with Republicans, Governor Murphy and the Democrats once again wasted hundreds of millions of dollars on unjustified pork while hanging schools in Toms River and Brick out to dry."

The $56.6 billion budget is now pending approval by Governor Murphy. Explanations for what critics describe as wasteful spending in FY24 only recently became public, appearing on the Legislature’s website 11 months after being signed into law.

"More than 150 schools are suffering from crippling aid reductions and all Trenton Democrats care about is raising taxes for low- and middle-class families," stated Asm. McGuckin. "It is unacceptable that Democrats provided little to no time for the public, or even legislators, to digest and testify on the pile of bureaucratic garbage that was just rammed down taxpayers' throats."

The delegation also condemned what they see as misplaced priorities by the Murphy administration.

"The Democrats have now forced school Boards of Education in my district to tax their residents to death so their kids can get the same level of education they received just a few years back," remarked Asm. Kanitra. "Trenton Democrats squandered a golden opportunity to work with Republicans on addressing affordability issues and our broken school funding formula."

To speak with the LD10 delegation, please contact Chris Sivel, SRO Deputy Director of Communications at [email protected].