Progressive groups are pushing back over Governor Murphy's commitment to let New Jersey's corporate business tax expire at the end of the year.

That's when it was always intended to sunset.

But its ending means the state will lose out on about $1,000,000,000 in revenue a year.

Money, those same groups say, could be put toward struggling New Jersey transit.

But as senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports, that argument isn't so simple.

Activists are lobbying at New Jersey train stations this week, handing out these flyers that look like train tickets.

They warn if a surcharge on New Jersey's corporate business tax is allowed to expire at the end of this year, it'll take about $1,000,000,000 out of the state's revenue stream.

And that could potentially drive up transit fares, which, of course, dismayed commuters.

The consumers are paying enough as it is for everything, not just train fare, but, you know, with inflation going on and the prices of everything, gas, food.

I don't think, you know, for a lot of people, it's going to be hard to absorb.

I mean, it shouldn't be on us.

You know, at this point, you know, we are already forced to go into work.

Now, adding cost to that commute just makes life more difficult.

A coalition of progressive advocates wants to extend New Jersey's temporary two and a half percent corporate tax surcharge on companies that make more than $1,000,000 a year.

They argue that money could benefit several public needs, including the beleaguered transit agency.

New Jersey Transit is facing $1,000,000,000 deficit, and that will mean fare hikes for ride transit riders across the state.

It could also mean cuts to service, really important train and bus service.

And New Jersey has the tools in its toolbox to fill that deficit by continuing to make wealthy corporations pay their fair share.

To say that we can't afford to invest in transportation.

If we don't have the highest corporate tax in the entire nation by a very wide margin, I think is a little bit disingenuous.

New Jersey's Business and Industry Association claims the surcharge pushes the state's corporate business tax up to 11 and a half percent, the nation's highest.

That gives Jersey a black eye and discourages even major corporations.

We don't want to do anything that makes it less likely those corporations choose to continue here or continue to increase their investments and job creation here.

Advocates have long called for a dedicated funding source to keep NJ Transit from going off the budget rails.

So could this tax surcharge help?

It's not so simple as saying that NJ Transit will suffer losses because the corporation business tax policy is changing.

It just doesn't work in such a direct way.

Our budget and finance reporter John Reitmeyer explains tax surcharge revenues go into the state's general fund.

And some of that money does subsidize NJ Transit, which faces a deep fiscal cliff when federal pandemic aid starts running out in 2025.

But it's a tenuous connection.

Moreover, this was always supposed to be a temporary surcharge.

It was actually extended one time beyond an earlier sunset date.

Governor Murphy has steadfastly resisted efforts for a second extension.

Lobbyists will keep trying to change his mind In Wood-Ridge I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.