Governor Mikie Sherrill has announced an update to New Jersey's Budget Report Card, enhancing transparency for the public ahead of the Legislature's final vote on the FY 2027 budget. This initiative aims to provide a clearer understanding of how New Jerseyans' tax dollars are allocated across state government.
The updated Report Card reflects the final $60.74 billion FY 2027 budget total, following votes by the Assembly Budget and Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees. It includes a comparison of departmental totals between the Governor's initial March proposal and the legislative committees' approved version, alongside a link to the Legislature's budget bill language.
Governor Sherrill emphasized the tool's purpose, saying, "New Jerseyans should be able to easily see how their tax dollars are spent and which programs they are funding - that's why we created the Report Card." She added that the update provides a "one stop shop" for user-friendly budget information, calling the FY 2027 budget "the most fiscally responsible in years, focused squarely on making life more affordable for New Jerseyans across our state, and I look forward to signing it in the coming days." Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette echoed this, stating the update "reflects our commitment to transparency, effective stewardship, and continuous improvement across state government."
The New Jersey Report Card, established by Executive Order No. 5 on Governor Sherrill's first day in office, is a public-facing website designed to show residents where their tax dollars are going and what state-funded programs are delivering for their communities. It will continue to evolve with additional details and program information from the Office of Legislative Services.