Gov. Christie: The New Normal

Gov. Chris Christie vowed on Tuesday afternoon to continue with what he coined as a “new normal” in New Jersey and maintain the state on a path of fiscal discipline and reform.

The 2012 budget includes $200 million in proposed tax cuts, including property tax relief, and will increase aid to schools.

The governor proposed a total state budget of $29.4 billion, which reduced spending 2.6 percent from last year, and calls for pension and benefits reform, as well as education reform.

Christie laid out a plan to reduce wasteful spending in each reform category, and told the state that it would “require tough choices,” to make a difference in each of these arenas.

“This is a new paradigm for state government—a new normal—that cuts and spends responsibly, (encourages) our local governments to do better with what our taxpayers entrust to them, and causes businesses to feel welcome and want to stay and expand or relocate to our state,” he said.

The governor indicated this year's budget would continue to provided municipalities with steady aid. Last year, Moorestown received $1,795,838 in state aid. The township is anticipating $1,793,101 in aid this year.

"This will be very helpful to us," said Moorestown Mayor John Button, who attended the governor's speech. "We're appreciative of every dollar. It's a tough time for everyone."

State aid accounts for almost 8 percent of the township's budgeted revenues.

In addition, the governor laid out the path for the state and its residents to emerge from the recession by attracting new businesses to the state with tax cuts, reform and incentives to encourage job growth, with a proposed phased-in program of $2.5 billion in job-creation incentives over the next five years.

School districts will find out Thursday how much aid they will receive. Last year, Moorestown received $1.5 million in state aid, a $3.53 million decrease from the previous year.