“A growing workforce and more private sector jobs are both positives,” said Regina M. Egea, president of the Garden State Initiative, “but the lack of consistent and substantial growth in either of those categories means that New Jersey is struggling to gain traction.”

To mark Tax Day, when Americans file their federal and state taxes, GSI’s president, Regina M. Egea, authored the following op-ed which appeared on NJ.com regarding New Jersey’s “fork in the road” when it comes to tax policy and choosing the right path forward:

A generation ago, Massachusetts was the poster-child for high taxes and earned the unenviable label of “Taxachusetts.” Through strong leadership, the state took action – their “fork in the road,” as Yogi Berra famously advised on decision making.

“Although strong corporate business tax revenues are boosting the state’s bottom line, the ongoing weakness in income tax revenue continues to be a cause for concern,” stated GSI’s president Regina M. Egea. “As we approach the tax filing deadline, income tax revenue continues to significantly lag projections, while the state is projecting record revenue for this month.”

“Today’s report confirms the swelling weakness in our state’s economy,” said Regina M. Egea, president of the Garden State Initiative. “The weakness is especially glaring in our state’s vital Information and Financial Activities sectors, which are now reporting nearly 10,000 lost jobs year over year.”

“The report is a not very subtle recognition of the weak state of our economy and a climate that is hostile to taxpayers and job creators,” stated GSI president Regina M. Egea. “But what should concern lawmakers and the public is this Administration’s doubling-down on the same policies that have our state at this tipping point.”  

“This anemic report, with substantial downwards revision to the jobs created in 2018, is yet another cause for alarm over the resiliency of New Jersey’s economy,” said Regina M. Egea, president of the Garden State Initiative. “Despite the first increase in the workforce participation rate in over a year, New Jersey is still lagging the US average  and while Wall Street continues a bull market, our Financial Activities sector led in job losses for the year.”

Today’s Budget Address may as well have been sponsored by the Florida or North Carolina Chambers of Commerce.  Doubling down, as this Governor is, on spending more each year without acknowledging the damage being done to our economy and tax base is the definition of reckless.

It is imperative that Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin are responsible leaders, and keep their word to hold the line on no new or higher taxes.They have demonstrated strong conviction on many issues over the last year.Now is the time to show up for New Jersey and stop the irresponsible and damaging polices of the Murphy Administration.

GSI’s president, Regina M. Egea, authored the following op-ed which appeared in the Asbury Park Press following the issuance of our report Adding It All Up: New Jersey’s Opportunity to Reduce $200 Million in School Transportation Costs:

NJSpotlight.com’s John Reitmeyer reports on the latest report in GSI’s series on the true cost of New Jersey’s government and opportunities for savings: Adding It All Up: New Jersey’s Opportunity to Reduce $200 Million in School Transportation Costs:

“taxpayers could see annual savings of as much as $146 million with better use of technology and more consolidation of student bus services, according to a new report that analyzes everything from how the state’s school districts hire bus drivers to how they design daily routes.“

How can New Jersey save $200 million of the $1.2 billion currently spent on student transportation?

That’s the question we answer in Adding It All Up: New Jersey’s Opportunity to Reduce $200 Million in School Transportation Costs the second in a five-part series focusing on the true size of New Jersey’s expansive government, how much is being spent in specific categories and, most importantly, identifying opportunities where it can be made more efficient.