The original item was published from April 26, 2024 11:05 AM to April 26, 2024 4:07 PM
Governor Murphy’s SFY2025 detailed budget recommendations for the Department of State's budget totals $121.2 million, a 19.4 percent reduction from the SFY 2024 budget allocation of $150.3 million, showing a decrease of $29.1 million. This reduction is attributed to the elimination of one-time costs from SFY 2024.
Below is a review of the Department of State’s budget recommendation and its impact on municipalities.???
Office of the Secretary of State: For SFY 2025, the budget recommendation for the Office of the Secretary of State includes a total of $8 million allocated to Direct State Services. This funding is aimed at supporting the daily operations of both the Office of the Secretary of State and the Division of Programs. Included in this is $240,000 specifically designated to support the activities of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission.
The Grants-In-Aid funding for SFY 2025 is proposed at $4.6 million. This includes $2.5 million for the Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development, $1.4 million for the Office of Programs, and $720,000 for the Cultural Trust. The Office of Programs will use these funds to support competitive grants for faith-based and community-based organizations, enabling them to perform a variety of social service activities. Federal Funding for the Office of Secretary of State for SFY 2025 remains level at $11.05 million.
Divisions of Elections: The Division of Election’s recommended allocation for SFY 2025 totals $34.4 million, including a Direct State Services allocation of $20.9 million for the division’s operations, which covers the maintenance of the Statewide Voter Registration System, expenses for online voter registration, and early voting. An additional $13.5 million in State Aid is recommended to reimburse County Election Offices for expenses related to mail in ballots and Election Day services.
Division of Archives: The Division of Archives has a recommended allocation of $1.3 million for SFY 2025 to manage the State Archives and serve as New Jersey research center for public records of historical value.
Business Action Center: SFY 2025 budget recommended allocations for the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) totals $25.4 million with $17.4 million for the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism that generated from the State Hotel and Motel Occupancy Fee. The NJ Division of Travel and Tourism works to promote New Jersey’s tourism industry to increase revenue, investments, and employment opportunities.
New Jersey State Council on the Arts: The New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) recommended allocations total $34.6 million, of that funding $31.9 million is allocated for cultural project grants, which are funded by revenue from the State Hotel and Motel Occupancy Fee for cultural organizations operations of cultural organizations, develop county partnerships, and finance special cultural projects.
Department Objective: The Department of State encompasses several divisions, including the Division of Elections, which ensures the secure and fair conduct of elections across New Jersey's 21 counties and fosters a culture of civic involvement. It also includes the State Museum and State Archives, which leverage New Jersey’s cultural and historical resources to encourage collaboration in culture, heritage, and the arts. The Department’s economic initiatives are supported through the Business Action Center and the Division of Travel and Tourism, which attract businesses and boost the state’s economy. The Department also oversees efforts in volunteerism, Hispanic policy, and faith-based initiatives.
While the Department of State includes the senior public institutions of higher education and the State Library, these entities operate autonomously. This also applies to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), which, although displayed within the Department of State, function independently.
These figures are based on the Governor’s proposal and may change based on public testimony, changes by the Legislature, and discussions with the Administration before its enactment by the end of June. The League will provide further updates as the budget process continues.???