Corzine’s plan includes raising the sales tax from six percent to seven percent to help close a $4.5 billion budget deficit. This deadline has been missed four times in the past five years. The state’s constitution requires a balanced budget by July 1. This order has stopped road construction projects and left tens of thousands of state workers on hold until an agreement can be reached. Governor Jon Corzine shut down most of the state government on Thursday, July 1st, over a dispute with fellow Democrats in the Assembly over a plan to increase sales tax. This is the first time the casinos have closed in the state since gambling was legalized 28 years ago.
Atlantic City’s casinos began to close this morning as the budget crisis in New Jersey continues.
