Key takeaways
- New Jersey state government spent $91.3 billion in fiscal 2024, the 9th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Division of Purchase and Property, and vendors register and find bids in NJSTART.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes in February (4th Tuesday).
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 12 and is scheduled to adjourn Jan. 11, 2028.
New Jersey government at a glance
| Fact | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $91.3 billion (9th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually in February (4th Tuesday) |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 12 to Jan. 11, 2028 (365 days) |
| Central procurement office | Division of Purchase and Property |
| Bid and vendor portal | NJSTART |
| State CIO | Kevin Dehmer, Chief Technology Officer |
| Local governments | 1,328 total, including 222 special districts and 521 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 9 public power utilities and 1 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 11,675 (end of 2023) |
How New Jersey buys
- Central purchasing. The Division of Purchase and Property handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. NJSTART is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our New Jersey vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | $1,000 or less |
| Informal quotes | Over $1,000 to $17,500: 3 quotes. Over $17,500 to $304,000: at least 3 written quotes |
| Formal solicitation | Over $304,000 |
Source: Treasury Circular 26-02-DPP (July 1, 2025). Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. New Jersey's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released in February (4th Tuesday). Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 12 and is scheduled to adjourn Jan. 11, 2028. Meets throughout the year. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Kevin Dehmer, Chief Technology Officer, leads the Office of Information Technology. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts 1 executive order, no laws and 2 agency policies on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in New Jersey
The biggest New Jersey entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | City | 323,808 residents (2025) | 61 of 100 largest cities |
| Jersey City | City | 302,013 residents (2025) | 71 of 100 largest cities |
| Bergen County | County | 977,026 residents (2025) | 55 of 100 largest counties |
| Essex County | County | 896,379 residents (2025) | 66 of 100 largest counties |
| Middlesex County | County | 883,335 residents (2025) | 69 of 100 largest counties |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | Public university | 52,269 students (fall 2024) | 22 of 40 largest |
| Newark Liberty International | Airport | 23,464,492 passengers boarded (2025) | 14 of 100 busiest |
| Passaic Valley Water Commission | Water utility | 310,483 people served | 113 of 208 largest |
| Newark Water Department | Water utility | 294,274 people served | 118 of 208 largest |
| Newark (NJ) Police | Police department | 955 sworn officers (2016) | 41 of 50 largest |
| Jersey City (NJ) Police | Police department | 854 sworn officers (2016) | 47 of 50 largest |
| Passaic County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff's office | 505 sworn personnel (2016) | 36 of 50 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 1,328 local governments. That includes 222 special districts and 521 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 9 public power utilities and 1 electric cooperatives serve 76,575 customers, 2% of the state. See New Jersey utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
New Jersey state holidays in 2027
Besides the 11 federal holidays, New Jersey state offices close on these days in 2027:
- Good Friday: Friday, March 26 (About a dozen states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky (half day), Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas)
See the full 2027 federal and state holiday calendar.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research New Jersey buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
Found a broken link or something inaccurate? We keep this page up to date. If a link doesn't work or any information here is wrong or out of date, report it by email to research@kensingtonsalesgroup.com and we'll fix it.