Senator Anthony Bucco

May 21, 2009   

Contact: Senate Republican Office / (609) 292-5199
Senator Anthony R. Bucco

‘If you don’t have the resources, you can’t spend money you don’t have.’

Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) called on Jon Corzine to bring his actions into line with his rhetoric. Yesterday, defending his decision to put property tax relief last in his budget and to terminate more than 1 million people from the property tax relief program, Governor Corzine stated, “If you don’t have the resources, you can’t spend money you don’t have.”

Bucco reminded the governor of the $3 billion in potential savings Republicans have identified that can still be used for tax rebates or for other programs that should rate as higher priorities for our governor.

“The governor said repeatedly over the last four years that property tax relief is his No. 1 priority, ” Bucco said. “In reality, property tax relief only comes first for Governor Corzine when he is looking for something to cut.”

Here are just some of the potential savings identified by the Republicans:

1. Reduce Spending on Special Municipal Aid $107,305,000

No money for rebates, but plenty for propping up machines.

Over the past six years, a handful of municipalities received state aid from a program whose funding increased from $29 million to more than $10 million since Fiscal Year 2006. Newark alone received an increase of $45 less than one year ago. The Special Municipal Aid Program has been the subject of harsh criticism in a State Auditor’s Report which noted: (1) no objective criteria exists to guide awards; (2) financial recovery plans for recipients have not been prepared as required by law; (3) hearings have not been held to determine if towns should be subject to a fiscal review board as required by law; and (4) grants recommended by staff are subject to “managerial override” (political manipulation). It is clear that the original purpose of the program is no longer adhered to and it has become little more than a source of cash for politically connected municipalities. Most recent spending restraints announced by the Governor included a modest $20 million cut to this program after three years of excessive increases of more than $100 million and repeated claims that the program could not be cut at all. This cut would bring the program back to FY 2006 spending levels.

Spending by recipients of the money just keeps climbing.

2. Eliminate Political Appointees $68,481,000

No money for rebates, but plenty for patronage.

Over the past four months, the Governor has hired 10 new employees in his own office (and more than 20 were hired in the last year), despite a hiring freeze everywhere else in state government. The list of new hires since January include: (1) a new aide in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs who was previously a Hudson County Coordinator for the Clinton campaign and paid employee of the Democratic State Committee; (2) a new “cabinet liaison officer” who was a former employee of the State Democratic Party and page at the 2008 Presidential Primary; (3) a new “briefing aide” in the Office of Operations (actually paid for with transportation funds) whose resume indicates he was a field coordinator for the New Jersey Democrat Party and for the Stender for Congress Campaign, the Greenstein and Benson for Assembly Campaign, Carden for Congress; and (4) a new “outreach coordinator” in the chief of staff’s Office who was an organizer in the Obama campaign;

It is not claimed that all of the employees in these titles should be fired. In fact, some of these people perform valuable functions, but political appointees are clearly employed in these titles – most of which are outside civil service laws and competitive hiring requirements.

Salaries and heath benefit costs have been increasing every year for the past three years.

3. County Prosecutor Funding Initiative Pilot Program $8,000,000

No money for rebates, but plenty for political pork.

This program provides a subsidy to four counties (Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Mercer) based on nothing but pure partisan concerns. It is a slush fund disguised as a policy program.

4. Elimination of Compensation to Members of Commissions and Boards $4,000,000

No money for rebates, but plenty for pension padders.

Hundreds of politically connected people who occasionally meet as they serve on various state boards and commissions, receive pension credit and health benefits as if they are full time employees. Individuals on these commissions are eligible for a full year of pension credit, provided they were hired prior to recent pension reforms. They should be removed from the underfunded pension systems so the resources can be used for hard-working career employees.

Examples of boards that offer pension benefits are the Local Finance Board, Real Estate Commission, Public Employee Relations Commission, the various licensing boards in the Department of Law and Public Safety and local boards such as the County Tax Boards. Even members of his own party have called for this reform. Total budget savings, would include up to $4 million in salary savings and health benefits costs.

Spending on health care for people on these commissions has increased every year for three years.

5. Eliminate the New Jersey Law Revision Commission $400,000

No money for rebates, but plenty for redundant commissions.

The New Jersey Law Revision Commission was established in 1985 to promote and encourage the clarification and simplification of the laws of New Jersey. This function can adequately be performed by existing staff in the Office of Legislative Services. Spending on this commission has increased every year for the past three years.

Other spending cuts can be found at www.senatenj.com.

‘If you don’t have the resources, you can’t spend money you don’t have.’ Senate Republican Budget Officer Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) called on Jon Corzine to bring his actions into line with his rhetoric. Yesterday, defending his decision to put property tax relief last in [...]