TRENTON, N.J. --New Jersey leaders agreed on a state budget Thursday following a six-day government shutdown that shut down the lottery, shuttered casinos and threw more than 80,000 people out of work, said the Associated Press.
The deal to close the state's $4.5 billion budget gap includes a sales tax increase that would raise $1.1 billion a year. Half of the new money would be used to lower property taxes this year, and all of it would go for that purpose next year.
Democrats who control [image-nocss] the state Assembly had opposed the tax increase, a jump from 6% to 7% that would cost the average New Jersey family an estimated $275 per year.
Governor Jon S. Corzine ordered state offices shut down Saturday after the lawmakers failed to pass a budget by the July 1 constitutional deadline. All nonessential state government operations closed, including parks, beaches and the lottery, and he furloughed more than half the state's employees. Only about 36,000 people in vital roles such as child welfare, state police and mental hospitals remained on the job, and they were working without pay.
The following notice still appears on the state lottery's website as of presstime:
Attention Lottery Customers and Retailers
Due to the State budget impasse, the New Jersey Lottery has ceased normal operations. The Lottery has directed all agents to cease all ticket sales, effective 7:55 pm, Saturday, July 1, 2006. All lottery terminals will be shut down after the July 1 drawing at 7:55 pm. There will be no ticket sales (including instant tickets), winning ticket validation, claim payments or any activity on the Green Machine terminals after 7:55 pm Saturday. Due to advanced ticket sales, the Lottery will direct essential staff to conduct the regularly scheduled drawings for these tickets at Lottery headquarters under the observation of Mercadien PC, Certified Public Accountants. Drawing results will be available on the Lottery's website, www.njlottery.net . Payment of claims, however, is not authorized until a new budget is in place. Once authorized through a new State budget, the New Jersey Lottery will resume regular operations.
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