More than $700 million in state budget projects added by New Jersey lawmakers this year were directed mainly toward districts represented by Democrats and competitive districts, according to an analysis of recently released budget documents. The funding was included as part of the state’s $58.8 billion annual spending plan, which passed the Legislature on June 30. However, the specific details about nearly 600 budget resolutions were not made public until August 8.
The review found that municipal and school district aid approved outside of standard formula awards and competitive grants went almost entirely to areas with Democratic representation. In New Jersey, legislators and officials from other government branches can request changes to the governor’s proposed budget each February through formal budget resolutions.
Democrats have expressed concern about potential Republican gains in some districts, such as the 38th District in Bergen County, which includes towns like Paramus and Lodi. While the 36th District has typically not been seen as competitive, recent results show that former President Donald Trump carried both districts in last year’s presidential race.
Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Research who has extensive experience in state and local government, commented on how these funding decisions are made. “If a legislator is threatened, if their district is more at risk, they get greater consideration,” Pfeiffer said.
He also noted that additional elements come into play when allocating funds through budget resolutions: “It’s that combination of factors that us mere mortals are not necessarily privy to or, in some cases, capable of understanding,” he said.
Pfeiffer explained that relationships with caucus leaders or fundraising abilities can influence how money is distributed among legislators’ requests.
