New Jersey’s budget battles came home last week, when state parks like West Milford’s Long Pond Ironworks were closed to the public. The government shut-down, spurred by a budget impasse between Gov. Jon S. Corzine and his fellow Democrats who control the state Legislature, ended at dawn Saturday with the passage of a compromise $30.8 billion spending plan that boosted the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. The shut-down began after the state failed to have a balanced budget in place by July 1, as required by the state constitution. State workers, sidelined because the state technically had run out of money to pay them, are expected to be compensated for their time off the job. State police and others considered essential to the health, safety and welfare of state residents remained on the job. State parks and beaches reopened to large crowds on Sunday. (Photo by Don Webb)