Voters disapprove of Corzine budget, poll says

Just 10% of New Jersey voters say they are “satisfied” with Governor Jon Corzine’s state budget, another 34% say that are “not particularly satisfied but can live with it,” and 54% are “decidedly dissatisfied,” according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll released this morning.

"Like the toll road plan two months ago, the budget proposal is not starting off with a groundswell of public support," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute.  "And like the earlier plan, one of the key questions left unanswered in the public's mind is how these proposals will eventually bring down New Jersey's high cost of living."

Nearly six out of ten New Jerseyans (59%) believe Corzine’s budget will make the state “less affordable for their family,” while just 9% say it will make New Jersey more affordable and 27% say it will have no impact on their family's finances.

New Jerseyans support reductions in the property tax rebate program, including eliminating rebate checks for those earning over $150,000 (59% approve to 39% disapprove) and reducing rebate amounts for those earning between $100,000 and $150,000 (52% approve to 43% disapprove).  The public also favors the elimination of pensions for part-time state workers (53% approve to 42% disapprove) and reducing the state workforce by 3,000 employees, mainly through early retirement (51% approve to 43% disapprove). 

But New Jersey residents are particularly unhappy with plans to reduce "charity care" funding that provides health care for the poor (22% approve to 74% disapprove), eliminate the Department of Agriculture (22% approve to 73% disapprove), cut back hours at state parks and motor vehicle offices (27% approve to 70% disapprove), and - to a lesser degree - eliminate the Commerce Commission (28% approve to 42% disapprove).

The public also opposes eliminating nearly all state aid to towns with fewer than 5,000 residents (39% approve to 54% disapprove), although they are split on reducing that aid to towns with fewer than 10,000 residents (46% approve to 48% disapprove).

"Once again, a Jon Corzine proposal is beset by a high level of cynicism among New Jersey residents.  While the public is generally supportive of a leaner state budget, there seems to be a sense of unease that the proposed cuts may not be the right ones," said Murray.