steve oroho

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.

While the fight continues for districts losing millions in state aid to get that money back from the state, a trio of New Jersey Legislators have come up with a plan to prevent any cuts, at least for the 2021-22 school year.

With changes to emphasis innovation, a plan to create the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission is one vote from legislative approval.

Vote-by-mail will remain an option, as it was before the pandemic, but in-person voting, including early machine voting, is preferred for 2021.

The state plans to borrow $4.5 billion to balance its budget and boost its surplus to $2.5 billion. Spending is higher than Gov. Phil Murphy had pitched.

Senators question state labor commissioner on the pandemic response by the unemployment system but are sympathetic to the surge swamping an old system.

In June, restaurants were told for a week they could reopen for indoor dining, only for Gov. Phil Murphy to change his mind three days before doors opened.

Gyms were closed in mid-March and still don't know when the state will allow them to reopen. Some never will.

The $7.7 billion in spending will keep the state operating through September. Big decisions about cuts, taxes and borrowing are due over the next three months.

New Jersey commuters who used to cross a river into New York or Philadelphia but have been working from home could yield an unexpected windfall for the state.

Progressive groups say spending cuts can't be the only option for addressing shortfalls in New Jersey's current and upcoming budgets.

Two Republican legislators are teaming up to get golf courses reopened in New Jersey.