2013 nj budget

In every poll released since Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is scoring off-the-charts high marks.

To many average New Jerseyans and some elected officials the State Budget process is too long, too tedious and sometimes too partisan.

New data from state Treasury Department indicates tax collections were up for the third month in a row in February.

Gov. Chris Christie says February's tax collections show the state is heading in the right direction.

Governor Chris Christie's Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 State Budget proposal provides a record amount of funding for New Jersey's schools. Yesterday's State Senate Budget Committee hearing gave the public its first opportunity to testify of the spending plan.

Many people think the public is wasting its time by showing up and testifying before Senate and Assembly Budget Committees.

Advocates for public education, the working poor and the environment criticized Gov. Chris Christie's spending priorities during the first public hearing on his $32.9 billion proposed budget, while the plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1 was greeted Tuesday with general satisfaction overall.

Mayors throughout New Jersey are telling lawmakers they're facing a financial squeeze.

In his budget address Governor Chris Christie proposes setting aside $40 million to help those impacted by Superstorm Sandy. State Senator Jim Whelan applauds the plan, but thinks people can't for the help until the budget is adopted in late June.

Building on lessons we've learned from Superstorm Sandy, we have to be smarter when it comes to protecting the Jersey Shore and every other area of the state too.