5-10-2023 11:26am

Governor Phil Murphy Defends Lavish Statehouse Furnishing Expenses

Statehouse Renovations Spark Controversy: Governor Defends $500K Antique Furnishings as Future-Proofing Historic Building.

After a six-year, $283 million renovation of New Jersey's Statehouse in Trenton, Governor Phil Murphy is facing backlash over the nearly $500,000 spent on furnishings, including $217,000 for three rugs, almost $67,000 for curtains, $24,000 for sofas, and $31,000 for two antique desks. Critics argue that the costs are obnoxious and fiscally irresponsible, while Murphy contends that the items will serve future governors for up to a century.

Some Expenses:

Sofa: $7,256
Two club chairs: $11,256
Two consoles: $13,760
Coffee table: $16,361
Two lamps: $3,146
Ten armchairs: $24,508
Two cabinets: $6,293
Curtains: $17,533
Two side tables: $3,272
Two pillows: $1,727
Credenzas: $21,108
Curtains: $32,307
A sofa: $7,495
Coffee table: $2,130
Two sofas: $9,695
Two chairs: $9,610
Two demi-lune tables: $3,573
Two side chairs: $4,862
Coffee table: $2,800
Two lamps: $5,407
Curtains: $16,855
Cabinet: $5,214
Four pillows: $1,757

In response to criticism, Murphy pointed out that the furnishings budget is less than three-tenths of one percent of the total project cost. He also emphasized that he won't be leaving with the rugs or other items when his term ends in January 2026, and that the furniture was purchased with the next 50 to 100 years in mind. Murphy added, "This is New Jersey, for Christ's sake. This is the second-oldest in-use Statehouse in America. And you want this thing to reek of pride. We said, ‘Let’s do all of this in a first-class way.'"

The renovation of the 231-year-old executive branch was initially approved by former Governor Chris Christie in 2016. While the total project came in under budget, the nearly half a million dollars spent on office furnishings has left many taxpayers unhappy. The expense includes not only Governor Murphy's office but also a separate gubernatorial office currently used by First Lady Tammy Murphy.

Jennifer Sciortino, a Murphy spokeswoman, explained that the historic building required historic furnishings, and the project's design team specified that certain areas of the Statehouse should contain replica and antique furnishings from the Edwardian Period. This was done in keeping with the historical standards of the early 1900s when the Statehouse wing was rebuilt after an 1885 fire.

Despite these explanations, the opulent spending has struck a nerve with many New Jersey residents who are already feeling the pressure of high taxes. As the debate over the Statehouse renovation expenses continues, Governor Murphy is left to defend the decisions that led to these lavish expenditures.