Millions in State, County and Municipal funds will benefit residents of Union County
On Thursday, Governor Phil Murphy signed a $50.6 billion spending plan backed by the State Senate into law. Millions of State, County and Municipal level funds were allocated towards and will benefit the residents of Union County.
The signing took place in the Township of Cranford at Cranford High School. The budget includes record levels of property tax relief. Other highlights include a permanent childcare tax credit for all those making less than $150,000 per year, while also laying the foundation for universal Pre-K. There is more than $5 billion included to pay down state debt.
The allocation of funding benefitting Union County is vast and includes resources for things such as flood relief, the County library consortium, county-wide 5G fiber optics, a new academic building for Kean University, and funding towards the Berkeley Heights Sewer Plant.
“This is budget addresses not only the economic challenges of our time but also our growing need for connection,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “As part of this budget, $10 million has been allocated toward the build out of a Countywide 5G fiber optics grid so that all County buildings, parks, town halls and law enforcement buildings will be equipped with 5G. This is a vital part of my ‘Connecting our Community’ initiatives for 2022 and will better ensure public safety and reliability of government services within Union County.”
Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, a Cranford resident, was present for signing of the budget.
“I was very pleased to see Governor Murphy choose my hometown as the place to sign the Fiscal Year 2023 budget into law. The funding provided for critical needs in our county, including $1.8 million earmarked for flood mitigation in Cranford, will be of lasting significance for all Union County families,” said Commissioner Kowalski. “I applaud and appreciate the leadership of Governor Murphy, Senate President Scutari, Speaker Coughlin, and all other state leaders who came together to make this budget happen.”
“It was an honor to have Governor Murphy come to Union County and sign the State Budget,” said County Manager Edward Oatman. “Union County residents will greatly benefit from the many programs and initiatives funded in this budget, to say nothing of the record levels of property tax relief included. The budget will help make Union County more affordable for all our residents while enriching our quality of life. On behalf of Union County, I thank the Senate President, Nicholas Scutari, for his leadership and what he has brought to our county”
“This is a budget that puts the focus on our priorities of making New Jersey more affordable, addressing the financial needs of working people and expanding the state’s economy,” said New Jersey State Senate President, Nicholas Scutari. “In addition to property tax savings for homeowners and renters, it includes the child tax credit, energy tax savings and the back-to-school tax holiday. We are putting money into the hands of New Jersey residents at a time they need it most.”
Bill A4402 was passed by the legislature on Wednesday, June 29 and signed into law by the Governor. The bill can be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A4402/bill-text?f=A4500&n=4402_I1
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing, emergency food distribution and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
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