by Jarrett Renshaw/The Star-LedgerThe Star-Ledger
on June 07, 2013 at 12:39 PM, updated June 07, 2013 at 1:11 PM

Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo says budget will be delivered long before deadline.

TRENTON — State Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said today he plans to have a state budget passed in the Senate by June 20 , more than a week before deadline. He said the spending plan will be introduced soon and before his committee on June 17 and before the full senate on June 20. The spending plan will be a product of negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Chris Chris Christie. The governor introduced a $32.9 billion spending plan for the upcoming year that begins on July 1.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to get enough votes to get it out of the committee,” Sarlo said. “Not everyone will be happy with the finished product.” He said the spending plan will not include Christie’s pilot school voucher program and will likely include more money for nursing homes and school districts. The Assembly is on a similar track.

Note from LeadingAge NJ: Now is a great opportunity to reach out to your state legislators and encourage them to support our request for $20 million in additional Medicaid funding for long-term care.