Gov. Christie presented a $32.1 billion budget to the state Legislature this afternoon that increases school aid by $212.5 million, makes the largest payment toward public employee pensions in state history and uses rosy revenue projections to help pay for an income tax cut.

The spending plan is the highest since fiscal year 2008, and about 8 percent higher than last year's budget. It projects a 7 percent increase in revenues.

"Resolve today to join us in the tough choices which leadership and truth inexorably lead us to, and join us now," Christie told a joint session of the Legislature this afternoon at the Statehouse. "End the nay-saying - join us to accelerate the New Jersey comeback this year."

The fiscal year 2013 budget, which needs to be approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature by June 30, finds cost savings by restructuring departments that provide services to vulnerable populations without eliminating funding for those programs, according to budget documents. 

Specific appropriations to schools and municipalities won't be available until later in the week, but Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said the vast majority of school districts will get an increase in aid.