NBC 40: State Budget Agreement Reached, Some Cuts Reduced

Cleve Bryan ( cbryan@nbc40.net ) - 6/17/08 05:41 pm
Last Updated - 6/18/08 05:25 pm

TRENTON - Leaders of the state Senate and Assembly announce they reached an agreement with the governor on a nearly 33 billiondollar budget that would cut spending by about $600 million.

"It's hitting the state and it's hitting our members hard, really hard," says Joe Williams of Local 152.

He and a coalition of community and labor groups called "Better Choices for New Jersey" are the latest group to oppose the governor through a protest on the Atlantic City Boardwalk today.

<SNIP>

Opponents of the proposed budget say it hits tax payers on two fronts: first by upping property taxes through reducing municipal aid and second by cutting back on property tax rebates.

"We see this as a very shortsighted budget that fails to invest in the future," says Eva Bonime of Better Choices.

But legislators who will review and possibly pass the budget say there are no easy solutions.

"We're having a difficult year and we're going to have a number of years that are going to be difficult," says Van Drew.

Originally published here: http://www.nbc40.net/view_story.php?id=5917