TRENTON — Despite New Jersey's weakening revenue outlook, Gov. Chris Christie is projecting higher spending increases than any governor in the country for the next fiscal year, according to a report released this week by the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The report, prepared in cooperation with the National Governor's Association, underscores how out of step the state budget outlook appears, and fueled criticism Tuesday from Democrats who insisted Christie's narrative of a "Jersey Comeback" was dangerously misleading.

New Jersey is only one of 13 states with revenue collections in the current year that are lower than expected, while 31 other states are surpassing their targets, the report said.

"Despite widespread revenue growth, 13 states reported that fiscal 2012 collections were below original forecasts," the report said. "With the majority of states reporting that fiscal 2012 collections are above original forecasts, a number of states could end fiscal 2012 with slight surpluses."

It added, "While any surplus is a positive sign, such surpluses are more likely the result of cuts in spending from previous fiscal years as well as conservative revenue forecasts."

The report comes days before Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is expected to outline a budget proposal to Democratic colleagues behind closed doors on Thursday, according to two sources who are familiar with the plan but not authorized to speak publicly about it.

Senate Democratic leaders have expressed concern about the disappointing revenue figures and said Sweeney should consider holding off on a tax cut compromise he struck with the governor — at least until the economy strengthens.

Last month, the Christie administration said it expected to collect $287 million less this year than it had anticipated, but the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services estimated the gap to be significantly higher.

In addition, New Jersey is leaving less margin for error than most states, the report showed. It is only one of five states projecting a rainy day fund for fiscal year 2013 less than one-percent of its expenditures.

The survey of all 50 states also showed that New Jersey’s projected 7.2 percent increase in spending in the $32.2 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 is the highest in the nation, as is the governor's 7.4 percent projected revenue growth.

The figures in the budget officers report do not take into account supplemental spending and other budget adjustments but do include one-shot revenue sources that bolster projections. Andy Pratt, a Treasury Department spokesman, said that when the supplemental spending and other measures are accounted for, New Jersey’s spending increases were closer to 4 percent.

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Assembly Budget Chairman Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) said the report provided more evidence that Christie’s budget numbers are unrealistic and should serve as a warning against his plan to borrow more than expected for transportation projects to help pay for his proposed income tax cut.

"The administration has already admitted that their borrow-and-spend plan represents the highest budget in state history, but when you compare these numbers to other states, Gov. Christie’s spending spree really comes into focus," Prieto said. "It’s time for fiscal responsibility, and it’s more obvious than ever that the governor’s plan to borrow money for a tax cut that mainly benefits the mega-rich is irresponsible."

A spokesman for Christie, Michael Drewniak, said, "We don’t take that dour a view at all, and nor are we rooting for failure as many Democrats are doing every chance they get."

Drewniak said there are "also independent analysts and surveys which agree with us that New Jersey’s economy is continuing to expand, which translates into increased revenues."

He pointed to a recent Rutgers University survey that showed about a quarter of New Jersey’s corporate chief executives think the state is a good place run or expand their business,

Their optimism comes as recent reports on jobs in the private sector put New Jersey on track to outperform its growth in 2011 by adding 42,000 jobs in 2012, said James Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers.

Democratic leaders in the Assembly have voiced much more skepticism about the governor’s often-touted "Jersey Comeback," arguing that their plan to help pay for tax cuts with a new surcharge on millionaires is the only sober plan remaining. If Assembly leaders insist on a millionaire’s tax, which Sweeney has been reluctant to tie to tax relief, budget talks could fall apart.

Just in case, Christie asked Cabinet officers on Monday to prepare contingency plans should stalled budget talks lead to a government shutdown. However, a spokesman for the governor said Monday the administration is hopeful an agreement will reached before July 1.

Related coverage:

• N.J. revenue shortfall increases at least another $50M in May

• The latest victim of Christie's sharp tongue: a budget chief he nicknamed 'Dr. Kevorkian'

• Christie administration's revised figures will predict $676M less in revenue, source says

• N.J. revenue predicted to fall $1.3 billion short of Gov. Christie's projections