The arts cuts are among many budget cuts and new taxes that will be presented in the annual budget proposal to the state legislature.

Lawrence P. Goldman, president and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, said the elimination of $32 million in arts and historic grants was "just unthinkable," the paper reported.

"It has taken us more than a decade to restore the arts council budget to where it was in 1989. The idea of starting from zero again is horrific. I never thought I would see this day in this state," Goldman told the Star-Ledger.

Jeffrey Woodward, managing director of McCarter Theatre in Princeton, and president of ArtPride/NJ, told the Star Ledger: "The elimination of arts and history funding threatens every single cultural organization in our state. Many will close, and those that will survive will be forced to significantly reduce their programming."

Paper Mill: The State Theatre of New Jersey got nearly $1 million from the state last year for its general operating budget, a spokesman told Playbill On-Line.