Hello, Phil Murphy. Goodbye, Atlantic City takeover?

Well, not so fast.

During his campaign for New Jersey governor, Murphy, a Democrat, declared several times that he would end the controversial state takeover of the financially strapped seaside resort that Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, put in place.

On Wednesday, less than a month after being sworn in to succeed Christie, Murphy stopped short of repeating that vow during an unrelated news conference in Atlantic City. Instead, he described "a partnership" between the city and the state.

"Atlantic City needs a full-bore partner in the state, full stop. I've never said otherwise," Murphy said when asked if he'll push to reverse the takeover, which stripped the local government of control over its budget and other key functions.

"I was never a fan of the over-the-top big-footing," the new governor continued. "I want to think much more in the sense of a partnership. And we will be a partner. And I think that's something sooner than later. We're only 15 days in."

What happens next, however, remains unclear.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester -- who worked with Christie to institute the takeover -- said he took Murphy's comments Wednesday to mean the new administration will handle the situation "differently" but that the state will "stay involved."

"He has the ability to decide what level," Sweeney told NJ Advance Media.

Sweeney made one thing clear: If Murphy wanted to terminate state control completely, he'd need the state Legislature to repeal the takeover legislation. And Sweeney said he's "not supportive" of that.

State Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, said Murphy's "approach is the right one."

"We can tweak (the takeover) a bit, but the overall tenets need to stay in place," Greenwald said.

Two sources familiar with the situation told NJ Advance Media they could see Murphy hiring a new law firm to oversee the takeover.

Currently, the West Orange law firm of former U.S. senator and state attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa -- a longtime Christie ally -- is in charge.

Chiesa's firm has so far billed the state at least $4 million for its work, according to a recent report by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Chiesa makes $400 an hour, while his associates make slightly less, under the firm's contract with the state.

One source said Murphy -- who received a slew of union endorsements -- might also make state control less aggressive toward public-worker unions. The state broke contracts and reduced pay for public safety workers since the takeover started.

The sources asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak about the matter in public.

Murphy also met with Frank Gilliam, Atlantic City's new mayor, after Wednesday's news conference.

Gilliam, a fellow Democrat, said he doesn't expect "a drastic overhauling in terms of the governor and the state just leaving."

"Partnerships mean that each entity has an opportunity to share their ideas," he said. "Under the past administration, that wasn't the case."

Christie and Sweeney called for the takeover after Atlantic City saw five casinos close over the last decade, its tax ratables drop from $20 billion in 2010 to $6 billion in 2016, and its debt balloon to more than $500 million.

Local leaders, some state lawmakers, and union officials fought back, saying the takeover would violate civil rights and damage collective bargaining.

But after a long fight in the Legislature, the takeover took effect in November 2016, giving the state power over hiring, payroll, assets, and more for up to five years.

Just days after its enactment, Murphy promised to kill the takeover should he be elected.

"You have to find a better solution," he said during a campaign stop in Atlantic City. "As opposed to big-footing the community, I'd be working with the community."

But Christie and others have credited the takeover for helping revive Atlantic City. Over the last year, the state has settled tax appeal debt with Borgata casino and drafted a city budget featuring the first municipal tax decrease in almost a decade.

Meanwhile, the shuttered Trump Taj Mahal casino is set to reopen this summer under Hard Rock brand and is expected to bring 3,000 new jobs and more attention to the boardwalk. The former Revel is also slated to reopen soon as the Ocean Resort casino.

"Hard Rock and others told me they came here because we brought stability back," Sweeney said.

One source said there's a fear Hard Rock might leave if the state rescinds the takeover.

A spokeswoman for Hard Rock did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Technically, Murphy's second-in-command, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, is now in charge of the matter because she's also head of the state's Department of Community Affairs, the agency that monitors the takeover.

Oliver long campaigned against the takeover while she was still a member of the state Assembly and said during her inauguration speech last month that one goal is "getting Atlantic City back on its feet and free of state intervention."

Oliver did not immediately return calls seeking comment Wednesday.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Arco and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.