The Chris Christie Record: Bringing Fiscal Sanity To New Jersey

The Chris Christie Record: Bringing Fiscal Sanity To New Jersey

After decades of gross mismanagement and shortsighted budgeting practices, Governor Christie came into office and acted decisively to bring the State’s budget back into balance and struck a path of responsibility and reform.

• Closing $13 billion in combined deficits in his first six months
• Holding discretionary spending $2.3 billion below 2008 levels
• Six Years with no new taxes including repeatedly vetoing income and business tax increases
• 9,400 fewer state government employees
• Sweeping Pension and benefits reform saving taxpayers over $120 billion
• More Pension Contributions Than Any Governor In History – $4.2 billion
• 2 Percent property tax cap resulting in the slowest rise “in more than two decades”
• A cap on arbitration awards to union employees, reining in the cost of government

Holding Discretionary Spending Below 2008 Levels: Governor Christie has reinforced his commitment never to return to the reckless spending and fiscal irresponsibility in Trenton that brought New Jersey to the brink of catastrophe, by holding Fiscal Year 2016 discretionary spending $2.3 billion below Fiscal Year 2008 levels.

Six Years With No New Taxes: In the eight years before Governor Christie took office, taxes and fees had been increased 115 times making New Jersey the most heavily taxed state in the nation and placing an undue burden on residents and job-creators alike. Since then, Governor Christie has signed six consecutive balanced budgets without raising taxes once, and repeatedly vetoing tax increases passed by the legislature.

9,400 Fewer State Government Employees: Governor Christie’s responsible management has resulted in a more efficient and streamlined State government. There are more than 9,400 fewer State government employees than when the Governor took office.

Sweeping Pension And Benefits Reform: Governor Christie signed into law landmark pension and health benefit reform in June 2011, marking months of hard work, negotiation, compromise and ultimately bipartisan support. While Governor Christie made clear that more work was needed, critical savings were achieved – over $120 billion in savings for New Jersey taxpayers.

More Pension Contributions Than Any Governor In History: Through FY ‘16, Governor Christie will have contributed more to the pension system than any other governor in New Jersey state history – nearly $4.2 billion, compared to the $3.4 billion in contributions made by all previous governors from 1995 through 2010.

2 Percent Property Tax Cap: Governor Christie signed a two percent hard cap on property taxes, cutting out loopholes and putting control back in the hands of property taxpayers. The Result: Property taxes are rising at their slowest pace “in more than two decades” in a “hard-fought milestone for one of the highest-taxed states in America.”

Interest Arbitration Reform: Governor Christie signed into law interest arbitration reform that provides municipalities with the help they need to keep property taxes down. The reform provides a meaningful cap of two percent on arbitration awards to union employees, reining in the cost of government