“Four months ago, I presented a budget built on the core principles of returning New Jersey to sound and fiscally responsible practices, with tax fairness and a strong surplus, and, most of all, making investments that ensure that New Jersey's future works for everyone.

“The budget under consideration by the Legislature shares many similar priorities with the investments I initially proposed. That is encouraging.

“However, the budget introduced today falls short on the principle of tax fairness. It leaves us without the stable and sustainable revenues to secure the investments we seek to make in our people and our state. It makes unnecessary cuts to valuable programs while increasing spending on non-vital ones and eliminates our first deposit in a decade into the state’s empty Rainy Day Fund, leaving New Jerseyans less prepared for an economic downturn. So, at this point, as I have stated again and again, every option is on the table.

“I will continue to work with Senate President Sweeney, Speaker Coughlin, the respective budget chairs, and leadership teams so we can, together, enact a stronger and more fiscally sound budget. And, through this budget process and beyond, I will continue advocating for tax fairness, a New Jersey that puts the middle class ahead of the special interests, along with sound fiscal practices that will provide stability and set our state up for long-term success.”