Murphy Reveals CWA Raises & Back Pay to Cost NJ Taxpayers $148.9 Million

Senator Mike Doherty expressed grave concern that the massive cost of pay raises that Governor Phil Murphy wants to give a public employee union matches almost dollar for dollar the steep cuts his administration proposed to the popular Homestead Benefit property tax relief program.

“It’s beyond outrageous that Governor Murphy is cutting property tax rebates for seniors to fund pay raises for a public employee union that supported his election,” said Doherty (R-23). “Governor Murphy is demonstrating how little he cares for New Jersey taxpayers.”

Doherty previously expressed concern about the impact of Gov. Murphy’s plan to cut the Homestead Benefit program by 50 percent in his proposed FY 2019 state budget.

He said that it wasn’t clear until the Governor released the cost of the new CWA contract today the exact purpose for the property tax relief cut.

“The $150 million that Governor Murphy is cutting from Homestead Rebates is going straight to union paychecks,” said Doherty. “It’s crystal clear. I wouldn’t be surprised to see taxpayers with pitchforks outside the Governor’s Office when they find out.”