The real authority
If Governor Christie really wants to save New Jersey some money, I’d suggest he start with some housecleaning. The New Jersey Constitution limits the organization of the executive branch to no more than twenty departments (with the ability to have temporary departments from time to time). However, sort of alongside the normal departmental organization, there is a host of “agencies” (about 70) that are “in but not of” various departments. In my opinion, they represent an unconstitutional extension of the executive.
It isn’t that I think, for example, the State Parole Board shouldn’t exist. I just don’t think it should exist outside of the Department of Corrections. It is telling to understand why such organization might exist…and why it really does.
The theoretical purpose for independent governmental agencies is that they are supposed to insulate a regulatory body from the political process. Some things are so important, the thinking goes, that they should not face budget cuts or operational changes due to the outcome of an election. Fine. But is everything of such vital importance?
Hardly. A new study by the Office of Inspector General gives us a hint – it’s the money.
Under NJ’s civil service guidelines, here are the payrates for several positions in NJ government:
Assistant Commissioner: $112,860 to $127,500 Median salary: $123,600
Chief of Staff: $99,000 to $133,245 Median salary: $113,743
Account Finance Analyst 3: $62,974 to $75,026 Median salary: $68,775
Account Finance Analyst 2: $54,007 to $64,813 Median salary: $55,573
Government Representative 1: $31,800 to $137,242 Median salary: $90,000
Government Representative 2: $31,865 to $118,450 Median salary: $65,229
Government Representative 3: $35,127 to $121,000 Median salary: $58,073
Confidential Assistant: $39,733 to $130,000 Median salary: $83,078
Confidential Secretary: $34,147 to $126,094 Median salary: $74,858
Here is a peak into the world of Authority-world:
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners’ Executive Director’s salary: $303,967 per
year.3
o NJ Transit Executive Director’s salary: $261,000 per year.
o NJ Sports & Exposition Authority Executive Director’s salary: $260,000 per year.
o North Jersey District Water Supply Commission Executive Director’s salary: $212,688
per year.
o NJ Schools Development Authority’s Chief Executive Officer’s salary: $195,000 per
year.
o NJ Economic Development Authority’s Chief Executive Officer’s salary: $186,600 per
year.
o Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority’s4 President’s salary: $185,980 per year.
o NJ Building Authority’s Executive Director’s salary is $180,000 per year.
The study found that 748 people in these hidden government agencies have a salary of at least $100,000. In addition, many of these authorities give out additional vacation or holidays and several refuse to participate in the state benefits program – which is pretty generous – in favor a self-funded benefits programs. That means they are holding back enough money to pay for medical care in cash, without going through a medical insurance company.
It isn’t limited to benefits, though. It is also that these authorities write their own policies for the usage of state cars and cell phones, for travel reimbursement and entertainment, and whatever else they want to do.
I think it’s also telling that the OIG report doesn’t look at any type of nepotism or patronage. But that is the reason we have so much hidden government here in Jersey. Not only are these authorities seen as a means of handing out patronage and thus maintaining power, they are also a means of taking care of family members who just couldn’t get a real job.
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