New Jersey's bonded debt is approaching $50 billion, including the $3.7 billion the state borrowed in November when it thought COVID would wreck its revenues.
Benefits for eligible homeowners have long been based on 2006 property tax information, even as bills continued rising. The change in the budget will boost benefits $130 or more.
Though the state approaches its new budget with a huge surplus, analysts are cautioning a fiscal cliff could await a year later. Federal funds might delay it.
The section of the Public Employees' Retirement System for local workers is much better funded than the state workers part and could become self-managed.
Senate adds random drug testing and tests for any suspicion to the bill, which evisions new industry of certified 'workplace impairment recognition experts.'