Christie administration mum on fixes for $800 million shortfall in N.J.

New Jersey’s state treasurer is refusing to detail just how the Christie administration proposes to deal with an $800 million state budget gap.

Treasurer Andrew Eristoff told the Assembly Budget Committee Wednesday that he will provide the specifics later this month.

But that leaves little time for lawmakers to consider them, said Assemblyman Gary Schaer, committee chairman.

“This is something where the ideas of the administration need to be forthcoming now — not two, three, four weeks from now,” said Schaer, D-Passaic.

Assemblyman Joe Cryan pressed the treasurer to detail alternatives the administration is considering.

“Why not put the options on the table and let’s have a discussion?” said Cryan, D-Union.

Lawmakers will have to wait, Eristoff said.

“We believe it’s appropriate to take the time to perform an extensive due diligence and then go though the process of reviewing all of those options with the governor so that he can make his own determination as to what path he wants to choose going forward,” the treasurer said.

Some of those solutions may require legislative action and approval and oversight; others may not, Eristoff said.

Eristoff said he expects some cuts in state spending in the remaining weeks of this budget year, and some of those funds will not be restored in the next fiscal year.