New Jersey Future Statement on NJ’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Address

TRENTON, June 30, 2023—New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach released the following statement on NJ’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget:

We strongly believe that investment in our water infrastructure is a vital necessity to provide for the health and resilience of every community in New Jersey now and in the future. This year’s budget has woefully underfunded our water infrastructure needs, and kicks the can down the road on these obligations, ultimately placing the burden of updating our aging water infrastructure on the shoulders of regular ratepayers and community members. Federal stimulus and recovery funds have presented NJ with a historic, once in a generation opportunity to make meaningful improvements. It’s up to the State of New Jersey to match that commitment and do its part to remove lead service lines, improve stormwater management, and assist our combined sewer overflow communities in fixing their outdated polluting systems. We are deeply disappointed in our government’s failure to rise to this challenge and prioritize water investment in the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget.

We are encouraged by the legislature’s commitment to allocating funding for an urban park at the State House. Through dedicating $3 million to the future Capital Park, our state leaders have ensured that park space will be accessible to the public to enjoy, and that this park development will pair with the $300 million already spent on renovating our State House.