Christie Budget Plan Pushes Greater School Choice, Trashes AC Government

Gov. Chris Christie is proud of his budget but not Atlantic City's government.

A visibly energized Christie touted his $32.9 billion spending plan at a town hall meeting Wednesday, saying the state will spend less in the upcoming fiscal year than former Gov. Jon Corzine did in the 2008 fiscal year.

Christie challenged "anyone around the country" to give "that record to the people of your state." Christie says the fiscal discipline is necessary because the state was going broke.

While Christie didn't call for a tax cut in his budget address on Tuesday, he expressed support for one while addressing the more than 800 people who packed into the Pine Brook Jewish Center in Montville.

Christie also hailed the state's property tax cap, saying property taxes went up only 1.4 percent last year.

Trashing Atlantic City's Government

Meanwhile, Christie is once again attacking Atlantic City's municipal government and its mayor.

The governor said the resort city is "one of the worst-run, the most bankrupt, ridiculous municipal governments in America." He also said the mayor "has no idea what he's doing."

Christie was angered by a report in The Press of Atlantic City that 15 public employees were retiring with $2.2 million in payouts for unused sick and vacation time. He is also upset about a $16,000 raise approved for Mayor Lorenzo Langford.

Langford announced yesterday announced his decision to run for a third term.

In his budget address Tuesday the governor again called on the Legislature to prohibit future public hires from being able to cash out unused sick time. Democrats want to cap payouts instead at $7,500.

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