Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Holds

First Public Hearing on FY 2011 State Budget

            PARAMUS – Today at Bergen County Community College in Paramus, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee held the first public hearing on the FY 2011 Budget, allowing New Jerseyans who will feel the impact of budget cuts to voice their concerns.

            Committee members issued the following statements after listening to testimony from today’s hearing:

            “Today, we’ve heard from local officials, health care advocates, education advocates, advocates for individuals living with disabilities and so many others about the severe impact of the Governor’s proposed FY 2011 budget,” said Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, and Chairman of the Budget Committee.  “One thing was made plainly clear through the hours of public testimony we heard today – the cuts that the Governor put on the table to balance the budget will mean drastic cuts to services that people depend on.

            “Today’s hearing was just the start of the process.  My committee members and I recognize the challenges in balancing a budget during the current national economic crisis, but we also recognize that conceptual budget cuts have a real-world impact on New Jersey’s hardest hit residents.  In the months ahead, we will work to refine the proposed budget, and look for ways to restore cuts to services that affect the State’s most vulnerable citizens.”