New Jersey’s FY26 Budget: Taxpayers Deserve Better
Trenton is at it again. Democrats are pushing through a bloated FY26 budget that makes New Jersey more expensive, not more affordable. Families are already stretched thin, and instead of delivering relief, this budget piles on more taxes, shortchanges our schools, and wastes money on pork projects.
A Surplus on Paper, a Deficit in Reality
They brag about a $7 billion surplus, but here’s the truth: New Jersey is staring down a $1.5 billion deficit. The surplus would barely last 40 days, and the budget language doesn’t even fix the legal requirement for a stronger cushion. That’s not fiscal responsibility—it’s smoke and mirrors.
Spending Out of Control
The FY26 budget spends a whopping $58.83 billion, up $2.1 billion from last year. Since Governor Christie left office, spending has skyrocketed by $24.1 billion—70%.
Democrats want you to believe they cut $2 billion, but the numbers don’t lie: overall spending keeps going up. If each department trimmed just 5%, taxpayers could save nearly $3 billion. Instead, Trenton keeps reaching into your wallet.
New Jersey Families Can’t Afford This
The cost of living is up more than $32,000 in the past seven years. Families earning nearly $105,000 now qualify for Section 8 housing. Think about that: hardworking middle-class families are struggling so badly they meet the standard for government aid.
And yet, state and local taxes have gone up by $30 billion under Governor Murphy. This is his idea of “fairer and stronger.” For us, it’s just unaffordable.
125 Tax Hikes and Counting
Over the past seven years, Democrats have jammed through 125 tax increases—including 12 in this budget alone. They raise your taxes, then hand back a fraction and call it “relief.” That’s like taking a dollar from you and giving back 70 cents, then expecting a thank you.
Enough is enough.
Property Taxes Keep Climbing
The numbers don’t lie:
Property taxes are up $5.8 billion under Governor Murphy.
The average homeowner is paying nearly $1,500 more.
Meanwhile, programs like ANCHOR and StayNJ sound nice, but they’re a Band-Aid on a much bigger wound.
Schools Shortchanged, Priorities Backwards
New Jersey will spend $74,000 per inmate but only $20,000 per student. Schools are being underfunded by nearly $500 million, forcing property taxpayers to pick up the tab.
On top of that, four-year public colleges are being cut by $130.78 million. How does that make sense when we’re supposed to be preparing the next generation?
Pork Projects Still Packed In
Trenton slipped $250 million in pork spending into this budget—516 pork projects in total. At a time when families can barely keep up with inflation, political pet projects should be the first thing cut, not the last.
Our Bottom Line
This budget treats taxpayers like an ATM. It makes New Jersey more expensive, more unaffordable, and more unfair.
We need to strip it down to the studs and rebuild a budget that puts families first: lower taxes, fully funded schools, and responsible spending. That’s the New Jersey we believe in—and the one we’ll keep fighting for.
