New Jersey Budget Outcomes

NJ State Advocacy Director Ethan Hasbrouck Analyzes New Jersey's Recently Enacted FY2013 State Budget.

Trenton, NJ (July 3, 2012) - Following months of public hearings, meetings and negotiations, on June 25th the Democratic-controlled New Jersey legislature passed the FY 2013 State budget, sending the $31.7 billion document to Governor Christie for his review and action. 

As revenue numbers continued to come in well below predicted levels, the legislature had to find ways to save money in order to fund essential programs and benefits.  Because of the difficult economic problems, many important programs were going to be cut or not receive additional state dollars.  Despite the declining state revenue numbers, ACS continued to advocate for addition funding for many cancer related programs.  In addition to advocating for addition funding, we proposed two additional sources of revenue for the legislature to consider: a tobacco tax equalization and additional fines for cigarette smuggling to increase enforcement. 

After review and consideration of priorities, the Governor used his line-item veto power to eliminate nearly $361 million worth of spending from the legislature’s approved budget. Unfortunately our revenue proposals were not adopted in the budget passed by the legislature. However, the priorities for ACS were not touched by the Governor’s red ink.  Included within the budget passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor were line-item appropriation increases for several ACS priorities: 

•NJ CEED Governor Christie proposed maintaining the program’s funding at $6 million.  The ACS lobbied the legislature for additional funding to prevent county programs from closing their doors when funds were exhausted (as had been the case in previous years).  Within the budget approved by Governor Christie was as addition $3.5 million for the NJ CEED program.

•NJ Commission on Cancer Research. Since 1983, the NJCCR has funded promising cancer research in New Jersey.  A recent study showed that the NJCCR leveraged over $10 in federal funds for every $1 in state monies appropriated.  However, the NJCCR’s annual $1 million appropriation was eliminated in 2010, leaving just voluntary funding provided through an income tax check off and “conquer cancer” license plate fees.  This move has jeopardized promising research within the Garden State.  ACS, working with our allies, successfully lobbied the legislature and Governor to have the $1 million included in the budget.

In addition to these line-item increases other ACS priorities were funded at the same level as in the previous fiscal year. The Comprehensive Cancer Control Program received $1.2 million and tobacco control funding was maintained at its current funding levels.   

These budget victories could not have been accomplished without the hard work from the staff and volunteers at ACS. The phone calls, emails and letters to the legislature and Governor worked for the benefit of cancer research, patients, and their families. We will continue to work the legislature and Governor for increases in tobacco control funding and to see our revenue proposals in next year’s budget.