Christie budget plan pushes greater school choice

MONTVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie is proud of his budget.

A visibly energized Christie touted his $32.9 billion spending plan at a town hall meeting Wednesday, saying the state will spend less in the upcoming fiscal year than former Gov. Jon Corzine did in the 2008 fiscal year.

Christie challenged “anyone around the country” to give “that record to the people of your state.” Christie says the fiscal discipline is necessary because the state was going broke.

While Christie didn’t call for a tax cut in his budget address on Tuesday, he expressed support for one while addressing the more than 800 people who packed into the Pine Brook Jewish Center in Montville.

Christie also hailed the state’s property tax cap, saying property taxes went up only 1.4 percent last year.