In a forward-looking speech that aimed to look beyond the pandemic’s grip while underscoring his prior achievements, Gov. Phil Murphy proposed a fiscal 2022 budget with no new taxes, no NJ Transit fare hike for the fourth year in a row, and lots of help for low- and middle-income families, schools and pensioners.

The governor’s $44.8 billion spending plan takes full advantage of higher-than-expected state revenues nearly one year into the pandemic that upended the state’s finances and residents’ lives.