Governor Phil Murphy

This Week In New Jersey: February 28, 2020

02/28/2020

Governor Murphy Presents Fiscal Year 2021 Budget: "Building On Our Progress"

Governor Phil Murphy presented his Fiscal Year 2021 (FY2021) budget – a plan to build on the progress made by the Administration over the past two years to support New Jersey’s middle class. Governor Murphy’s FY2021 budget will continue this progress by maintaining fiscal responsibility, improving affordability and stabilizing property taxes, growing the economy, and investing in New Jersey’s future. The Governor’s proposed budget makes significant investments in property tax relief, health care, education, and NJ TRANSIT, while including more than $566 million in savings.

“Our Fiscal Year 2021 budget builds on the significant progress we’ve made for our middle class over the past two years,” said Governor Murphy. “Since taking office, we’ve sought to build a stronger and fairer economy for every New Jersey family, not just the wealthy or well-connected. From fighting for tax fairness to boosting funding for our public schools to stabilizing property taxes, I’m proud to say that our budget prioritizes the needs of all our residents.”

“We’re doing what no one thought possible,” added Governor Murphy. “We are making real progress against high property taxes, restoring New Jersey’s fiscal standing, growing our economy, and repositioning our state for success by investing in and shaping our future. We have a record of unmistakable progress on all fronts, and today, we have a new budget for FY2021 that promises to keep us moving forward in building a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all.”

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Governor Murphy Announces Historic $50 Million Investment in College Affordability with Tuition-Free "Garden State Guarantee"

With the promise to provide greater affordability to New Jersey’s college students, Governor Phil Murphy, joined by Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Zakiya Smith Ellis, announced the “Garden State Guarantee” – a historic $50 million investment in public, four-year senior public colleges and universities through his proposed FY2021 budget that would allow all eligible New Jersey undergraduate students to attend any public college or university in the state tuition-free for two years.

“We know students drop out of college – or worse, rule it out as an option for them — because they believe the price tag is unaffordable. After more than a decade of decreased state investments in higher education, our Administration’s innovative plan creates a path for broader college affordability,” Governor Murphy said. “This complementary program underscores New Jersey’s continued commitment to tuition-free community college. We remain laser-focused on retaining in-state talent through our Jobs NJ initiative and expanding opportunities for low-income communities and communities of color.”

“This means that students enrolled through the CCOG who transfer to a four-year, public institution could receive their entire four years of education completely free,” Secretary Smith Ellis said. “The Garden State Guarantee aligns with the goals of our state plan for higher education by sending a clear message to New Jerseyans: you can afford to go to college and earn a degree.”

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Governor Murphy Visits Bound Brook to Highlight School Funding Increases in His FY2021 Budget Proposal

Governor Phil Murphy visited Bound Brook High School to announce state school aid funding for his Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal that provides $16.3 billion to support New Jersey schools – the greatest funding commitment to education in the history of the state. The additional $336.5 million in K-12 aid and $83 million for preschool in the Governor’s budget plan marks an increase of over a billion dollars in state aid for schools since the beginning of the Administration. In his budget remarks on Tuesday, Governor Murphy noted that the record investments in school funding continue to tackle the root-cause of New Jersey’s high property taxes.

“The budget proposal unveiled on Tuesday furthers my Administration’s commitment to level the playing field across New Jersey’s public education system, ensuring that all students have access to a high quality, world-class education,” said Governor Murphy. “Every dollar spent to maintain our position as the national leader in education makes New Jersey more affordable for communities, like Bound Brook, who deserve much-needed property tax relief.”

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Governor Murphy Announces Offshore Wind Solicitation Schedule of 7,500 MW Through 2035

Governor Phil Murphy announced the offshore wind solicitation schedule to meet the 7,500 megawatt (MW) offshore wind goal by 2035 and called upon the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to take all necessary actions to implement the schedule. These projects will deliver the clean, renewable energy generation needed to meet the State’s goals of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050. Reaching 7,500 MW will generate enough electricity to power more than 3.2 million homes and meet fifty percent of the state’s electric power need, while supporting an offshore wind industry that will generate billions of dollars in investments in New Jersey’s future and create thousands of jobs.

“Several months ago, I committed the State of New Jersey to 7,500 MW of offshore wind by 2035, as a critical component of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050,” said Governor Murphy. “By announcing this planned solicitation schedule, we are demonstrating to our partners in industry and labor that we are committed to implementing this process in a thoughtful way that ensures economic growth for the New Jersey.”

“Not only was Governor Murphy the first to embrace 100 percent clean energy, he has been a national leader when it comes to recognizing the importance of offshore wind,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “New Jersey opened the largest single-state solicitation, is building a supply chain that will support projects up and down the east coast and is poised to double our offshore wind capacity. Guided by our new Energy Master Plan, offshore wind is a critical component in realizing the Governor’s vision of 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and ensuring our planet survives for future generations.”

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Seeking Public Insights, New Jersey State Future of Work Task Force Launches "Your Future of Work" Digital Public Engagement Campaign

The New Jersey State Future of Work Task Force launched a public engagement campaign with the goal of tapping the public’s experience and expertise to inform the development of the Task Force findings and recommendations. The public is encouraged to participate at https://www.smarter.nj.gov/fow from today until March 15, 2020.

The Task Force is seeking to learn about how the public perceives challenges pertaining to the future of work. Via the Internet, the Task Force is asking for people to share their greatest concerns with regard to the impact of new technology on lifelong learning and skills, rights and benefits for workers, and workplace health and safety. 

“The Task Force includes a diverse array of global experts from academia, labor, business, and policy, yet we realize that we don’t have all the answers - we don’t have all the solutions,” said Beth Simone Noveck, the State’s Chief Innovation Officer and chair of the Task Force. “To ensure that we’re developing the best solutions and recommendations possible, and to ensure that those recommendations truly meet the needs of the public that we’re here to serve, we have to tap into the general public’s expertise and know-how.” 

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