Christie vetoes bill to cut sales tax in 5 N.J. cities

Gov. Chris Christie has rejected legislation to cut the sales tax in five New Jersey cities as part of a longtime program that allowed businesses to levy half the state’s rate.

Christie conditionally vetoed the legislation on Friday. He called the Urban Enterprise Zone program that dates back three decades a failure that hurts state tax revenues.

The program expired at the start of the year for Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton. It allowed businesses to offer half of the state’s full 6.875 percent sales tax, which took effect Jan. 1.

The legislation came in response to a proposed 10-year expansion of the program that the Republican governor vetoed last year.

Lawmakers say the bill would have helped urban areas compete economically.