Gov. Phil Murphy’s job approval ratings appear to be holding steady, according to a new poll from Monmouth University, with 50% of the adults polled giving positive marks and 42% negative. Those results are down slightly from the start of Murphy’s second term back in 2022, and his support is slipping among registered independent voters.
When it comes to the state budget, less than half — just 45% of residents — said they have heard about the governor’s $56 billion spending plan for the 2025 fiscal year that he presented two weeks ago.
The budget process also officially kicked off Monday at the State House with hearings in the Assembly and Senate. Lawmakers are taking a first crack at how money will be spent on programs like affordable housing and other social services, as well as a proposal allowing towns to raise property taxes beyond the current cap and another raising the gas tax to pay for transportation needs.
