The man stood right in front of Gov. Phil Murphy and was blunt.

"This state is too expensive, and you're making it worse," Greg from Freehold told the Democratic governor during a town hall in Newark on Thursday night.

Three months into his tenure, Murphy had come to Newark Tech High School to sell his first state budget proposal -- a $37.4 billion plan that includes more than $1.5 billion in new taxes and moves to close loopholes.

The governor argued those hikes are needed because he "inherited a mess" from his predecessor, Republican Chris Christie, and that the state "stopped funding" important things like education, transportation, women's health and more.

"We need to be that state that's good value for money," Murphy told the audience of about 100 or so. "You say: 'You know what? It may not be the cheapest place in the country to live, but you get a lot back for that."

But Murphy faced two confrontations in an otherwise jovial evening in New Jersey's largest city, a Democratic stronghold.

One came from another crying mother from south Jersey who begged Murphy to fix the state's school funding issues.

Greg, however, came first.

The Freehold resident echoed many of the arguments that Republicans -- and some Democrats -- make about Murphy: that New Jersey already has the nation's highest property taxes, and he should look to cut money instead of spending more.

Greg noted that his property taxes have more than doubled since he and his wife bought their home in 2001.

He then reeled off how Murphy wants millions of dollars for things like universal pre-kindergarten and free community college.

"Who's paying for this? Where is this money coming from?" Greg asked Murphy face-to-face. The governor walks right over to those with questions at his town hall meeting.

"You're going way too far," the man continued.

At one point, Greg argued that new public workers -- such as teachers and police and firefighters -- should be forced into 401k-styled retirement plans instead of pensions.

Then, the man said he plans to flee the Garden State once he's able to.

"I got seven years, four months, and one day, and I am gone," Greg said. "I am sending my daughters to college out of state with orders never to return."

Murphy didn't fire back the way Christie might have during those arguments at his old town halls.

Instead, he smiled.

"I wanna be the governor for the folks who stay, let me just say that," the new governor responded.

Murphy then noted "we're doing a lot on property taxes."

"Yeah, increases," Greg shot back.

"OK, I listened to you. Do you want to listen to me?" Murphy replied.

Though short on details, the governor started a list:

* His administration filed a lawsuit to fight the Republican-backed federal tax overhaul that will hurt New Jersey.

* He's appointing a czar to examine having more towns share services to bring down property tax bills.

* He plans to fully fund the state's education formula over the next four years, which he argues will bring down property tax bills.

* And he vowed to help grow the state's economy.

"I'll tell you what we're not gonna do, though," Murphy added. "We're not gonna take it out of the backs of teachers and the police and fire."

Gov. Phil Murphy hosts a town hall meeting at Newark Tech High School on Thursday evening.

A few minutes later, the second confrontation happened.

It echoed the scene from Murphy's last town hall, in Willingboro, earlier this month, when a group of worried parents, school officials, and young students implored Murphy to rework the school funding numbers in his budget.

Critics say while Murphy's proposal significantly increases education funding overall, many school districts considered "underfunded" have been shortchanged while "overfunded" districts receive too much money.

On Thursday, Amy Jablonski, a parent and school board member in Chesterfield, told Murphy she voted for him and that she's "very supportive" of his legislative agenda.

But she pleaded with the governor to rework school funding.

"I want to believe you, that you're gonna do the right thing for my kids," Jablonski, who stood next to her first-grade daughter Emma, said through tears. "But when I hear from everyone else and I don't hear you making those commitments, I'm afraid I can't believe in your agenda anymore."

Murphy told her that "help is on the way."

He assured her he is working with the Democratic-controlled state Legislature on the matter. Acting state education commissioner Lamont Repollet told top lawmakers earlier this week that he will work with them to "modernize" the school funding formula before the state budget is due June 30.

"We accept the formula isn't right," Murphy continued Thursday. "I'm on your side. We're committed to figuring this out. You have my word."

On a lighter note, another person in the audience had a different question for Murphy.

"I want to ask you face to face, man to man, will you please come on my podcast?" Terrell from Newark asked. "Please. Please."

"Can someone follow up with Terrell?" Murphy responded with a grin.

The governor also snapped a photo with the man.

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