Governor Christie Releases $12.8 Million from Fiscal Reserve

TRENTON — Governor Chris Christie on Dec 10, 2016 ordered the immediate release of more than $12.8 million in appropriations temporarily reserved under Executive Order No. 209 to maintain a fiscally responsible, balanced Fiscal Year 2017 State Budget.
“Following the actions of the State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee and State Health Benefits Commission in recent months, in addition to the bipartisan reforms achieved under S-2749/A-4328, I am comfortable with the fiscal solvency of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget, as it relates to health benefit expenses originally unaccounted for by the Legislature,” Governor Christie said. “Accordingly, I am directing the Department of the Treasury to release the remainder of funds held in fiscal reserve for these important public purposes.”
Executive Order No. 209 was issued in July in direct response to the Legislature’s failure to responsibly budget for the State’s existing health care costs and highlight the need for common sense, reasonable health benefit reforms. State employee health care benefits cost state taxpayers more than $3.25 billion annually.
In Sept., the Governor ordered the release of $33 million from the fiscal reserve and in Oct., he ordered the release of more than $8.4 million from the reserve to fund public services, including health, education, domestic violence prevention, housing, military veteran and training programs across the state.
Here is a chart of the programs among those covered by the remaining appropriations released Dec. 10, 2016:
Agency – Program/Item:
Community Affairs – NJ Re-Entry Corporation
Education – Advanced Placement Exam Fee Waiver
Education – Cumberland County Vocational Education
Human Services – NJ Elder Index
Human Services – Personal Care Rate Increase
Labor – Vocational Rehabilitation Services
State – Center for Research and Education Advanced Transportation Engineering (Rowan University)