Category: Press Release

Alex Ambrose Promoted to Senior Policy Analyst

Posted on by NJPP Staff

New Jersey Policy Perspective is pleased to announce the promotion of Alex Ambrose to Senior Policy Analyst. In this role, she will continue to lead NJPP’s research on climate justice and transportation policy.

Since joining NJPP in 2022, Alex has taken on increasing responsibility, becoming a thought partner across the organization and for coalition partners. Her work has strengthened NJPP’s voice on clean energy, data centers, and utility accountability — connecting policy analysis to real-world impacts on New Jersey families and communities.

“Alex brings tremendous expertise and a deep commitment to environmental and climate justice to everything she does,” said NJPP Director of Research Brittany Holom-Trundy. “Her research has been essential to NJPP’s work on clean energy and transportation, and this promotion reflects the outsized role she plays in moving these issues forward for New Jersey.”

Before joining NJPP, Alex served as Policy Associate at the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, where she worked on clean water, open space preservation, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, including helping pass the statewide ban on single-use bags. She also served as Policy Assistant at New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. Alex holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources from Rutgers University.

NJ’s Cash Assistance Program Has Left Families Behind for Nearly 30 Years

Posted on by Kelli Parker

NJPP today released “A Safety Net in Retreat: An Obstacle Course Known as TANF,” a new report by Policy Analyst & State Policy Fellow Tonanziht Aguas examining nearly three decades of erosion in New Jersey’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Building on an explainer published Tuesday, the report calls on the Sherrill administration and the legislature to raise benefits, update eligibility rules, and direct more TANF dollars to the families the program was built to serve.

New Jersey’s maximum TANF grant for a family of three is $559 a month — about $6.20 per person per day — and has lost more than a third of its purchasing power since 1998. The program also reaches far fewer families than it once did: New Jersey now serves just 11 families per 100 living in poverty, compared to 72 per 100 before TANF replaced its predecessor program. If the program reached families at that earlier rate, an estimated 98,000 more families would be receiving support today. That contraction has fallen hardest on Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities, who face the steepest economic barriers and make up the majority of TANF recipients.

The report calls on New Jersey to raise benefits to at least 50 percent of the federal poverty level and index them to inflation, update eligibility thresholds and time limits to reflect today’s economic realities, and align work requirements with federal standards and the actual circumstances of low-wage workers and caregivers. These reforms are more urgent given active federal threats to cut TANF and other safety net programs that families rely on, alongside cash assistance.

Tonanziht Aguas, Policy Analyst & State Policy Fellow, New Jersey Policy Perspective:
“New Jersey has made deliberate policy choices for nearly 30 years that have made TANF harder to access and less adequate for the families who need it. The result is a program that reaches fewer people each year and provides less real support than in 1998. The Sherrill administration and the legislature have a clear opportunity to fix this. And given what’s happening at the federal level, they should not wait.”

Nicole Rodriguez, President, New Jersey Policy Perspective:
“When families are in crisis, they need a floor to stand on. Right now, New Jersey’s cash assistance program is not providing that. Raising benefits, updating eligibility rules, and directing more TANF dollars toward families are not radical asks. They are the minimum the state owes to the people this program was built to serve.”

Read the full report.

AI Data Centers Drive 20% Electric Bill Spike, Cost New Jersey Families Billions

Posted on by Kelli Parker

Families and small businesses across New Jersey are paying higher electric bills to subsidize the explosive growth of AI data centers, according to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective released today.

The report, “Fool’s Gold: The Hidden Costs of AI Data Centers for New Jersey,” finds that data centers were the main driver of the 20 percent jump in electric bills that New Jerseyans experienced in June 2025. By 2030, nearly 10 percent of New Jersey’s entire electrical usage will go to data centers, or the equivalent of powering the entire state of Rhode Island.

“New Jersey families are getting hit twice,” said Alex Ambrose, NJPP Senior Policy Analyst and report co-author. “They’re paying more each month to subsidize data center expansion, and they’re breathing dirtier air because these facilities are keeping polluting power plants running. Meanwhile, the companies building these data centers are getting tax breaks and walking away with the profits.”

The report finds that data center growth imposes serious costs: higher utility bills, increased air pollution in environmental justice communities, strain on water resources, and minimal long-term job creation despite state subsidies.

A typical large AI data center uses as much energy as 100,000 households. During the 2025-26 capacity auction, AI data centers accounted for nearly 70 percent of the increase in demand, driving the 20 percent electric bill spike. Utilities are passing infrastructure upgrade costs to households and small businesses with no protections in place.

The environmental costs fall hardest on communities already facing pollution burdens. More than half of all coal and gas plants in the regional grid are within a mile of an environmental justice community. In Vineland, a proposed data center plans to use diesel backup generators in a community where residents already experience asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer at rates higher than the state average.

Despite promises of economic development, a 250,000 square-foot data center employs about 50 people after construction ends. By comparison, warehouses generate one job for every 600 square feet.

States are losing billions in subsidies. Virginia lost $1.6 billion in sales tax revenue, more than 20 percent of its total. New Jersey’s Next New Jersey program offers up to $500 million in tax credits for AI data center construction.

The report recommends four policy-based solutions:

  • create a standard regulatory definition of data centers;
  • require companies to pay higher rates and report energy use publicly;
  • standardize load forecasting to prevent inflated projections;
  • and remove or restrict state subsidies.

“The path forward is clear,” said Ambrose. “Stronger rules, cleaner energy, and a commitment to putting people before corporate profits.”

The full report is available at njpp.org.

For the Many: Advocates Rally at NJIT Calling for Corporate Accountability and a Fair New Jersey Budget

Posted on by NJPP Staff

NEWARK, NJ — Advocates, community leaders, and residents from across New Jersey gathered on Monday, March 30, at New Jersey Institute of Technology ahead of the final Senate Budget Committee public hearing to demand a state budget that prioritizes working families over corporate profits.

The rally comes at a critical moment in New Jersey’s budget process, as lawmakers weigh a proposal that includes some positive steps, such as scaling back certain tax breaks for wealthy interests and generating new revenue, but still leaves a projected $1.5 billion structural gap and critical programs on the chopping block.

Advocates say that shortfall underscores a broader problem: New Jersey’s budget continues to fall short of the bold investments needed to make life more affordable and equitable for residents.

“There is no shortage of need in New Jersey — only a shortage of political will. Families are struggling with the cost of child care, health care, housing, and underfunded schools, while corporations and the ultra-wealthy continue to benefit from a rigged system,” said Eric Benson, For The Many Coalition Manager. “ Asking households earning $2 million, $5 million, or $10 million a year — and corporations big enough to shift profits offshore — to pay their fair share, is how we can fund the investments that make New Jersey more affordable and more just.”

Participants also called on state leaders to support a more open and equitable process, one that produces a final budget that reflects the needs of the broader public. Budget hearings began before the full details of the proposed budget were even publicly available, limiting meaningful public input and transparency. Meanwhile, lawmakers have shifted hearing schedules and locations with little notice, making it harder for everyday residents to participate.

Federal funding cuts are already taking effect, with more expected. New Jersey cannot wait. A sustainable, equitable revenue strategy is not a luxury — it is the only responsible path forward.

“As the cost of living increases, it is becoming harder and harder for millions of working class families to survive,” said Juliette Meneses, a member of Make the Road New Jersey. “ Even with my job it is not possible to build a real safety net for my family to cover basic needs let alone emergencies or savings. As the federal government attempts to gut vital programs for New Jersey families like the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid and SNAP, we ask that the state pursue progressive revenue policies that ensure those with the most contribute their fair share.”

“Health Professionals and Allied Employees, New Jersey’s largest union of healthcare workers, supports the plan by For the Many coalition to protect our state’s working families by making the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes,” said HPAE Secretary-Treasurer Alexis Rean-Walker. “The New Jersey legislature and Gov. Mikie Sherrill must support working families by instituting a super millionaire’s tax and by closing corporate tax loopholes that allow them to get away with not paying their fair share of taxes. Proceeds from this tax on the wealthy must then be allocated toward funding critical needs in our state, including making sure a critical resource like University Hospital is funded to the needed level.”

“Families are choosing between prescriptions and rent; seniors are cutting pills in half,” said Laura Waddell, Health Care Program Director for New Jersey Citizen Action (NJCA). “Working people who do everything right are still drowning in medical bills. That is not an accident. That is a system that has been allowed to put profits over people for far too long. New Jersey has a choice: we can keep letting health care costs rise year after year, or we can take action to finally hold this system accountable.”

“The costs of climate change are rising every year, and right now those costs fall solely on New Jersey taxpayers. State lawmakers have the power to change that by finally making polluters pay,” said John Aspray, Senior Organizer with Food & Water Watch and Empower NJ. “We all pay for climate change through higher taxes, insurance premiums, and utility bills to repair and rebuild our infrastructure. We can shift those costs off of New Jersey families and onto the big corporations responsible for this crisis. It’s only fair.”

“A budget is a statement of priorities and New Jersey must prioritize real investments in our communities, from Census 2030 to education, childcare, and protections for immigrant families, while safeguarding the critical funds that support our long-term future,” said Erik Cruz Morales, Director of Democracy at the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “But just as important is how that budget is made. Right now, the process is opaque, inconsistent, and shuts the public out. Decisions are being made without transparency or meaningful public input. New Jersey deserves a budget process that is open, accessible, and accountable to the people it serves.”

“With immigration detention capacity in New Jersey nine times greater now than it was this time last year, and a steep 400% increase in ICE arrests and detentions in the state, it is unacceptable that the funding for immigrant services remains lower than they were under the Biden Administration,” said Madison Linton, Policy and Research Associate at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “Just six days ago, we passed and signed into law a series of immigrant protection bills that were years in the making, but those protections have been watered down and it is up to this Governor to fill the gap with investments in our communities, and especially into the communities who build up our state.”

“Housing is a human right and we should not have to fight to have a roof over our heads,” said Matthew Hersh, Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy. “We need the state to fully invest in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and without raids to the fund in order to help provide affordable homes that need them most. When we go in to testify, we are sticking together because all of these basic investments are shared priorities.”

“When it comes to economic opportunity in this state, not everyone is standing on equal footing. We need our legislators and leaders to take on the state’s wealth gaps and economic inequality, and that needs to start with this budget,” said Damon King, Economic Justice Counsel at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “There was a study in 2022 that showed that less than 1 percent of New Jerseyans held over $740 billion in wealth in this state.” “It’s not enough for New Jersey to be a wealthy state. It needs to be a state where economic opportunity is real, and real for everyone.”

“Childcare is essential so that working class families can go to work, but we are told there is no money for families and communities while million dollar corporations like the Prudential Center can get over $300 million dollars in tax breaks,” said Joanna Pearrich, Director of St. Paul’s Centenary United Methodist Church Child Care Center. “We the working class of New Jersey fulfill our obligations, contribute to the tax system and work hard, but still find ourselves at a disadvantage compared to large corporations that receive millions in aid.”

“What we need is affordability. We need health care. We need housing. We need accountability. We need justice. We need due process,” said Amitabha Bose, President of the NJIT Chapter of the Professional Staff Association. “We need all those things, and campuses like this that fund higher education are key to the growth factor.”

“The New Jersey budget is a moral document and we’re here to make sure that New Jersey holds up its fair share. We’re working to make sure that the state is not only protecting immigrant families by word, but that we are centering dollars to our communities to make sure we have the services in place to protect immigrant families here in New Jersey. It is about putting our money where our policies are,“ said Jesselly De La Cruz, Latino Action Network Foundation, Executive Director.

Watch a recording of the press event here.

Download photos of the press event here.

About For The Many
For the Many is a statewide coalition of more than 40 organizations committed to fixing New Jersey’s upside-down tax code and ensuring the state budget works for everyone — not just the wealthy few. Our members include labor unions, grassroots community groups, immigrant justice advocates, environmental leaders, anti-poverty organizations, and policy experts from across the state. Learn more at peoplesbudgetnj.org.

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Federal Cuts Threaten Health Coverage for 727,000 New Jerseyans

Posted on by NJPP Staff

More than 727,000 New Jerseyans currently lack health insurance, and that number will grow dramatically as Congress eliminates $500 million in marketplace subsidies and imposes new Medicaid work requirements, according to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective.

Most uninsured New Jerseyans work jobs considered “essential” during COVID — retail cashiers, farm workers, construction workers — but their employers don’t provide health coverage. Immigrant residents are nearly 9 times more likely to be uninsured than native-born citizens.

“We have proof that policy solutions work,” said Brittany Holom-Trundy, Research Director at New Jersey Policy Perspective and author of the report. “The ACA brought coverage to 515,000 more New Jerseyans since 2014. GetCovered NJ enrollment more than tripled. Medicaid expansion covered nearly 390,000 people who fell through the cracks. Federal cuts now threaten to reverse all this progress.”

Key findings:

  • Enhanced federal subsidies expired, eliminating $500 million that helped New Jersey residents afford marketplace coverage through GetCovered NJ
  • New Medicaid work requirements starting in 2027 will kick eligible people off coverage through paperwork barriers. Evidence from Arkansas shows these requirements don’t increase employment
  • Federal lawmakers are eliminating coverage options for immigrants, who already face the highest barriers to affordable insurance
  • The ACA worked: 515,000 more New Jerseyans gained coverage since 2014. GetCovered NJ enrollment tripled to 513,217

 

The report calls on state leaders to expand subsidies, fix enrollment systems, create a public option, and ensure equal access across counties.

“Congress is abandoning working families who were on the front lines during the pandemic,” said Holom-Trundy. “State leaders have the tools to counter these federal cuts. The question now is whether they’ll act before families are pushed into crisis.”

Read the full report at NJPP.org

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Governor-Elect Sherrill Will Inherit Budget Full of Hidden Dangers

Posted on by NJPP Staff

TRENTON, NJ – JANUARY 15, 2026 — Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is set to inherit a state budget full of hidden time bombs that threaten to explode in Fiscal Year 2027, according to a new analysis released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective.

With historic cash reserves and an improved credit rating, New Jersey’s finances appear healthy. In reality, the state faces billions in rising costs and revenue shortfalls that will severely constrain the incoming administration’s options.

“The next budget will be one of the most challenging in years,” said Peter Chen, senior policy analyst at NJPP and author of the report. “All the one-time fixes and federal money that helped balance recent budgets are gone. Governor-elect Sherrill will need to raise new revenue or make deep cuts just to maintain current services—before she can pursue any new initiatives.”

Five major budget pressures:

  • Stay NJ costs jump $900 million as the full annual cost of the senior property tax credit comes due
  • $1.5 billion structural deficit already exists, forcing the state to spend down reserves
  • School funding costs rise beyond inflation due to security and mental health requirements
  • Federal pandemic funding expires at the end of 2026, with no state replacement
  • State health benefit costs surge by 20 percent or more, adding hundreds of millions in costs

 

Federal cuts to Medicaid and other programs create additional uncertainty, potentially creating a $3.3 billion funding hole for hospitals and public health.

The report notes that the Murphy administration made important strides in fully funding schools and pensions. But those gains could be eroded without new revenue sources.

NJPP recommends focusing new revenue on concentrated wealth in individuals and large corporations, reducing expensive tax credit programs that benefit the wealthiest households and large multinational corporations, and exploring new options such as a wealth proceeds tax on net investment income.

“These budget time bombs are ticking,” Chen said. “The choices the Sherrill administration and legislature make in the coming months will determine whether New Jersey can maintain essential services and invest in its future, or whether we’ll see harmful cuts that set the state back.”

The full report is available at njpp.org.

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3.6 Million New Jerseyans Live in Hazmat Rail Evacuation Zones, State Lacks Basic Safety Rules

Posted on by NJPP Staff

More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures, according to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). The report comes one week before the 13th anniversary of the Paulsboro derailment, which released 23,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the air and water.

The report, “Millions of New Jerseyans at Risk from Hazardous Materials Transported by Rail,” documents how New Jersey’s dense population faces unique threats from trains carrying hazardous materials. In 2024, New Jersey had 55 rail incidents, far more than the previous year. Five involved hazardous materials where toxic chemicals spilled or were vented.

“Freight rail companies have spent years lobbying against safety rules while prioritizing their own profits over better infrastructure. Meanwhile, millions of New Jerseyans live in evacuation zones without knowing what chemicals are rolling past their kids’ schools. Lawmakers need to stop letting corporate interests block protections that could save lives,” said Alex Ambrose, NJPP Policy Analyst and author of the report.

The report finds that Hudson and Bergen counties have the largest at-risk populations, with nearly half a million residents each living within an evacuation zone. The statewide evacuation zone includes 1,306 schools, 119 hospitals, 170 long-term care facilities, and 9 airports, including Newark Liberty International.

“Safety must always be our top priority,” said District 18 Senator Patrick J. Diegnan. “This legislation requires improving oversight and strengthening emergency response requirements to manage the risk of high-hazard rail shipments with the goal of protecting lives, communities, and the environment.”

“More than a decade after the Paulsboro train derailment, too many New Jersey communities continue to live with the daily risk posed by freight lines that transport hazardous materials through their neighborhoods,” said Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. “A4460 would deliver long overdue and commonsense reforms by requiring appropriate crew staffing, addressing unsafe train lengths, enhancing oversight of bridge inspections, and expanding the use of preventative wayside detector systems. While federal action has stalled, New Jersey cannot wait for another public health emergency to remind us of what is at stake. This bill would provide the tools we need to strengthen rail safety and protect our residents before another preventable disaster occurs.”

“Far too many people, including state decision makers, are not truly aware of the risk associated with the thousands of trains carrying hazardous materials throughout every corner of our state,” said Debra Coyle, Executive Director of the NJ Work Environment Council. “More than just a report, today’s release is a call to action for decision makers to address the current shortcomings of state policy and take all steps possible to prevent another major rail disaster in New Jersey.”

The report recommends lawmakers pass legislation requiring increased transparency on cargo information, mandatory safety upgrades including wayside defect detectors and two-person crews, specialized first responder training, and financial accountability requirements for rail companies. These policies cost the state little to implement. Freight companies — not taxpayers — would bear the costs.

Read the full report at njpp.org.

New Jersey Puts $200 Price Tag on Constitutional Right to Counsel

Posted on by NJPP Staff

TRENTON, NJ — Thousands of New Jerseyans face an impossible choice: defend themselves against criminal charges or go into debt. That’s because municipal courts across the state charge up to $200 just to apply for a public defender, according to a new report released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP).

The report, The $200 Barrier to Justice: Why NJ Must Eliminate Municipal Public Defender Fees, finds that while 90 percent of New Jersey defendants cannot afford attorneys, municipalities continue to charge application fees that generate almost nothing in revenue while deepening poverty and disproportionately harming Black and Latinx residents.

“Everyone has the constitutional right to a lawyer when accused of a crime, but for many in New Jersey, that right is behind a paywall,” said Marleina Ubel, Senior Policy Analyst at NJPP and the report’s author. “These fees trap people in cycles of debt while bringing in virtually nothing for municipalities. It’s a lose-lose situation that harms families and undermines justice.”

Key findings from the report include:

  • Minimal revenue, maximum harm: In East Orange, public defender fees generated only $3,523 in 2024, representing 0.002 percent of the city’s $182.4 million budget.
  • Collection costs exceed revenue: Nationally, collecting public defense fees costs more than 95 percent of what is collected. New Jersey’s own data suggests the state’s collection system costs more to run than it generates.
  • Disproportionate harm to communities of color: Black residents are more than 12 times as likely to be charged and convicted as white residents. In 2023, 53 percent of Black households and 52 percent of Latinx/Hispanic households did not make enough money to meet basic needs.
  • Families pay the price: In 83 percent of cases, families or loved ones carry the burden of court debt, with women disproportionately affected as primary caregivers.

In 2023, Governor Murphy signed legislation eliminating public defender fees for felony cases after advocacy from NJPP and partner organizations. However, people facing charges in municipal court can still be required to pay up to $200 just to apply for representation.

“As a former contract attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, I have seen firsthand how these application fees impose barriers to defendants’ constitutional rights,” said District 32 Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez. “$200 may not seem like much to the average person, but that is a devastating fee for someone living in abject poverty. I am proud to represent a city that is leading the way on this critical issue, and I am proud to sponsor this legislation to bring this reform statewide.”

“New Jersey undermines the constitutional right to counsel when municipalities impose financial barriers to accessing public defenders, disproportionately harming low-income communities and communities of color,” said ACLU-NJ Policy Fellow Lauren Aung. “Justice should not be hidden behind a paywall. By eliminating these fees, our state can ensure that the constitutional right to counsel is accessible to all and build a more equitable criminal legal system.”

NJPP’s report calls on the New Jersey Legislature to pass legislation prohibiting municipalities from charging public defender application fees. This would require amending N.J. Stat. 2B:24-17(a), ensuring state funding covers municipal public defender costs, and requiring transparency in public defender access and outcomes.

Municipalities like Jersey City have already eliminated these fees without budget crises. Neighboring states including New York and Pennsylvania do not charge public defender application fees.

“Jersey City and other municipalities have shown this is possible,” said NJPP President Nicole Rodriguez. “New Jersey must follow suit and guarantee that justice is truly accessible to everyone, not only to those who can afford it.”

The full report is available at njpp.org.

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80% of Black and Latinx Students Attend Underfunded NJ Schools

Posted on by NJPP Staff

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s school funding formula shortchanges schools serving students from low-income families by about $5,300 per student, leaving 80 percent of Black and Latinx/Hispanic students in schools without adequate resources, according to a new report released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). The report, based on research by Dr. Bruce D. Baker of the University of Miami, shows that fixing the formula would cost about $3.5 billion annually — bringing school spending in line with levels before the 2008 recession, measured as a share of the state’s economy.

The report, Resetting School Funding for New Jersey’s Next Decade, reveals that while New Jersey ranks among the top states on national tests, a large gap remains between test scores of students from low-income families and their wealthier peers. Schools serving students in poverty currently receive only 21 percent more funding per student who qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, far below the 47 to 57 percent the formula intends to provide.

“A Black high school student in a high-poverty district who is in crisis will have less access to a mental health professional than students in more affluent districts. A first-grader who speaks Spanish at home may face larger class sizes than students in nearby wealthier towns, preventing her from learning English as fast as she could,” said NJPP Special Analyst for Education Policy Dr. Mark Weber, author of the report summary and a Fellow at the National Education Policy Center. “This isn’t an accident. It’s the result of a funding formula that doesn’t provide schools with the resources they need to serve students from low-income families. New Jersey can fix this, and the path forward is clear.”

Key findings from the report:

  • Schools serving students in poverty receive far too little additional funding. For every 10-percentage point increase in students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, schools spend only about $300 more per pupil on average—nowhere near enough to provide smaller class sizes, specialists, and support services.
  • The racial equity crisis is stark. A Black or Latinx/Hispanic student in New Jersey has about a four in five chance of attending an underfunded school, while a white student has about a one in two chance. This difference reflects decades of policy decisions that have systematically underinvested in communities of color.
  • The solution is achievable. Schools should receive $8,880 more per student from a low-income family, up from the current $2,960. This additional $5,290 would allow schools to reduce class sizes, hire reading specialists and math coaches, provide after-school tutoring and summer programs, and offer counselors and social workers.
  • The investment is affordable. With approximately 586,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, the total cost is about $3.5 billion each year — only a nine percent increase in the total budgeted spending of New Jersey school districts for 2025-26. This would bring total school spending close to what New Jersey spent before the 2008 recession, measured as a share of the state’s economy.

 

The additional funding would allow schools serving students from low-income families to provide resources that are standard in schools serving wealthier students but often missing in high-poverty communities, including smaller class sizes, reading specialists, after-school programs, and updated technology.

“New Jersey has a constitutional obligation to provide all students with an education that prepares them to succeed,” Weber added. “We know proper funding works. New Jersey’s high test scores prove that. But we’re leaving too many students behind, particularly Black and Latinx students. The state must act now to fulfill its constitutional mandate and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.”

The report recommends that New Jersey policymakers urgently change the current formula to increase the additional per-student funding for students from low-income families from $2,960 to $8,880, keep this higher funding level over the long term, and remove the sliding scale that provides different amounts based on district poverty concentration.

The full report is available at njpp.org.

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For The Many NJ: 40+ Organizations Calls on New Jersey Leaders to Make Super Millionaires and Corporations Pay Fair Share

Posted on by NJPP Staff

The For The Many coalition, representing more than 40 unions, community organizations, and advocacy groups across New Jersey, today delivered a letter to Governor Murphy and legislative leaders demanding immediate action to raise revenue from the state’s wealthiest households and largest corporations.

The letter comes as Congress passes massive tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations while cutting healthcare, food assistance, and other critical services that New Jersey families depend on. These federal cuts threaten to strip billions in healthcare funding from the state, leaving at least 800,000 residents with more expensive coverage and reduced benefits.

“New Jersey families are already struggling with skyrocketing housing costs, unreliable transit, and rising prices for groceries and utilities,” said Eric Benson, Coalition Manager, For the Many. “The wealthy and well-connected got the biggest handouts from Washington. Now it’s time for them to pay their fair share so we can protect the healthcare, housing, and services our communities need.”

The coalition is calling on state leaders to pass two key reforms during the lame duck session:

  • Tax Super Millionaires: Create new tax brackets for those earning over $2 million, $5 million, and $10 million annually.
  • Hold Corporations Accountable: Require large multinational corporations to report profits from overseas subsidiaries and end offshore profit-shifting that drains over $1 billion from the state budget.

Together, these policies would generate the resources needed to counteract harmful federal cuts and invest in healthcare, housing, education, transit, and affordability.

“Families are struggling with skyrocketing costs and a tsunami of federal cuts to essential programs,” said Maura Collinsgru, Director of Policy & Advocacy for New Jersey Citizen Action. “Every delay means higher costs for families, deeper holes in the state budget, and more families being pushed to the brink. Our coalition stands ready to work with New Jersey’s elected officials to pass these critical reforms and ensure we have the revenue needed to invest in programs New Jersey families are counting on.”

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For the Many is a statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations committed to fixing New Jersey’s upside-down tax code and ensuring the state budget works for everyone — not just the wealthy few. Our members include labor unions, grassroots community groups, immigrant justice advocates, environmental leaders, anti-poverty organizations, and policy experts from across the state. Learn more at peoplesbudgetnj.org.

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