NJPP Moves the Needle on Transparency & Accountability in Trenton
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
NEW JERSEY POLICY PERSPECTIVE RELEASE
Transparency and accountability for the state's fiscal and economic policy. Here's the quick rundown:
Fixing Corporate Tax Subsidy Reporting
NJPP has been an outspoken leader in calling for the state to report on the outcomes of corporate tax breaks. Last week, these efforts bore fruit: Lawmakers sent a bill to the governor's desk that could - finally - lead New Jersey to start publicly reporting on details such as how much companies received in tax credits, how many jobs they produced, what those jobs paid and more. The governor should swiftly sign this common-sense legislation to better inform the policy debate over this single-minded economic growth strategy.
For more, check out NJPP's Sunday Star-Ledger op-ed, our backgrounder on the legislation and news coverage in the Bergen Record.
Improving the Budget Process
In 2014, NJPP and our partners brought to light a disturbing fact: New Jersey ranks third worst in the nation when it comes to long-term budget planning. In an effort to improve this dismal standing, legislators last week introduced and moved a bill that would implement several of NJPP's top recommendations, including bringing consensus to the revenue forecasting process, creating multi-year planning in the budget and forcing contingency plans to be in place in case revenues veer off track during the year. The legislation is a great first step toward making the budget process more collaborative, transparent and effective.
For more, check out NJPP's testimony, news coverage in NJ Spotlight and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities' report on state budget planning.
ICYMI
While this transparency and accountability news is exciting, it's not all that NJPP has been up to - not by a long shot. Be sure to check out our blog for more on immigration, the minimum wage and the state's lagging economic recovery.