Gov. Phil Murphy has struck a deal with fellow Democrats who control the state Legislature to raise taxes on high-income earners in New Jersey and write rebate checks to households in the state with income below $150,000 and at least one child, NJ Advance Media has learned.
The deal breaks a years-long impasse over the so-called millionaires tax, which Murphy has sought since the beginning of his term but the Legislature rejected twice in previous state budget talks.
Third time’s the charm, though.
State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, hatched the agreement, which came together Wednesday, three sources familiar with the talks told NJ Advance Media. The sources were not authorized to publicly disclose the talks and requested anonymity.
The New Jersey Globe was first to report the leaders were close to a deal.
Spokespeople for Murphy, Coughlin, and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, declined to comment Wednesday night.
Murphy, Coughlin, and Sweeney are scheduled to formally announce the agreement Thursday at 10 a.m. during a news conference at the Trenton War Memorial.
WATCH HERE: Gov. Phil Murphy to announce budget deal. How to watch the press conference live today.
Under the plan, the state’s gross income tax rate on income between $1 million and $5 million would increase from 8.97% to 10.75%. People with income over $5 million already pay that top marginal tax rate.
Murphy’s administration is estimating this will bring in $390 million from 16,491 New Jersey residents and 19,128 nonresidents.
Someone making $2 million would pay about $18,000 more in gross income taxes, while someone making $4 million would pay about $71,000 more.
In exchange, households with income below $150,000 and with at least one child would receive a $500 rebate check, sources said.
It’s unclear how soon that check would come.
Sources said the rebate checks carry a $350 million price tag.
Other key details of the bill are still being ironed out, sources said.
Murphy, an avowed progressive, campaigned on raising the millionaires tax and twice failed to get the tax hike through the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
After passing the millionaires tax five times under Republican Gov. Chris Christie, Democrats soured on it, saying New Jersey was already taxed enough and the state’s high-income earners took a hit under Republican President Donald Trump’s federal tax overhaul.
The tax deal resolves one piece of the latest state budget, which must be adopted by Sept. 30. Murphy has called for about $1 billion in tax increases and $4 billion in borrowing to offset his administration’s projected tax losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coughlin and Sweeney hinted last month they were still leery of tax increases, especially when so many families and workers have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Sources said Coughlin agreed to the millionaires tax on the condition there be a tax break for middle-class residents, as well.
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Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com.
Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
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