Michele Matsikoudis, an assemblywoman for the New Jersey General Assembly, has put forward a bipartisan proposal advocating for zero-based budgeting (ZBB) to enhance accountability and efficient spending across state government. The announcement was made on the social media platform X.
“Today’s edition of Mondays with Michele is an important rerun of Ep. 163 from earlier this year,” said Matsikoudis. “I remain committed to fighting for fiscal responsibility. I believe strongly in our bipartisan proposal to bring common sense zero-based budgeting principles to Trenton.”
Zero-based budgeting requires each department to justify all expenses annually rather than relying on previous year totals. According to Matsikoudis, this approach is intended to curb wasteful spending and improve efficiency. In Trenton, she has spearheaded bipartisan efforts to implement ZBB in New Jersey, arguing that it would enhance fiscal discipline and rebuild taxpayer trust. Supporters of the proposal assert that this reform aligns the state’s financial management with best practices already adopted in several other U.S. states.
New Jersey’s fiscal year 2025 budget exceeds $55 billion, driven by increases in education, healthcare, and pension contributions. Analysts have noted that incremental budgeting—where prior allocations roll forward—limits oversight and innovation. States like Georgia and Tennessee that have adopted zero-based or performance budgeting have reported significant savings and improved outcome tracking. Advocates of Matsikoudis’s proposal believe similar results can be achieved in New Jersey.
The National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) reports that more than a dozen states employ zero-based or hybrid budgeting models. These systems promote accountability by requiring measurable results and performance metrics for each funded program. Studies indicate that ZBB can help governments reduce expenditures by up to 10% without cutting core services, reinforcing bipartisan support for reform proposals in fiscally strained states like New Jersey.
Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis represents New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District, which includes parts of Union, Morris, and Somerset Counties. First elected in 2021, she has focused on fiscal responsibility, small business support, and government transparency. Matsikoudis serves on the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee as well as the Aging and Senior Services Committee. Through her “Mondays with Michele” series, she provides regular updates to constituents on legislative initiatives and bipartisan reforms.
