Raven there is a possibility that faculty at Rutgers University could go on strike unions representing 8 000 faculty members will begin voting next week on whether to authorize Union leadership to call a strike the vote would give leaders the option to call a strike in March or April if they haven't reached a new contract agreement with the university according to the Gothamist it doesn't mean a strike would necessarily happen contracts covering two faculty unions expired last June and Rutgers says negotiations are ongoing more federal funds are on the way to New Jersey to help residents pay their utility bills this winter New Jersey's Congressional Delegation announcing that an additional 35 million dollars will be earmarked for the low-income home energy assistance program which helps lower income households pay their home heating bills with this latest round of federal funding a total of 188 million dollars has been allocated to provide assistance New Jersey's business climate ranks last among the northeastern states according to an analysis from the New Jersey business and industry Association the conclusion is based on among other things a comparison of state tax rates njbia president and CEO Michelle sakurkas says the report points to the need for property tax reform and a look at how New Jersey funds its Public Schools we graduate some of the smartest brightest students and that's wonderful however we do it on the largest property taxes in the nation and usually buying for us for that position is Massachusetts and they do it for about 20 percent less sakurka says the proposal put forth by Republican lawmakers this past week to fully fund schools is a way to lower property taxes is a good starting point for further discussion Iraqi session on Wall Street after another report showed inflation Rose more than expected in January here's a look at today's closing numbers I'm Rhonda schafter and those are your top business stories support for the business report provided by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announcing its renewed Jersey business Summit and Expo March 14th and 15th at Harrah's in Atlantic City event details online at njchamber.com [Music] [Music]