http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/video/jw/player-viral.swf
Much of the focus of yesterday’s corruption bust in New Jersey has been on the ugly behavior of the officials involved, the scope of the sting and the bizarre nature of some of the offenses.
But the governor said something yesterday that deserves more attention than it’s been getting. It wasn’t part of the prepared remarks; rather, it came afterward and registered little more than two paragraphs at the end of this story in The Asbury Park Press:
And he said the solution is to reduce New Jersey’s sprawling government — the state and its many authorities and commissions, 21 counties, 566 municipalities, 603 school districts, fire districts and local and county utility authorities.
“We have layers upon layers upon layers of government. And you in the press corps who follow this know how difficult is it to get to consolidation and shared services,” Corzine said. “If there were ever an example of a need to seek some element of consolidation in the efforts of how we deliver government, I think this is testimony. There are so many targets of opportunity for individuals who want to test somebody’s credibility in this state.”
This year’s gubernatorial election is being waged over Corzine’s record and the palpable sense that the state has run off the road and into a massive ditch. There has been a lot of talk about property taxes and the Republicans have talked about cutting government — without much in the way of specifics.
But the ability of this state to function efficiently and ethically is severely compromised by the shear number of government entities — about 1,400 taxing agencies. There may not be another issue as important. We know the governor thinks it’s important, though he has done very little so far to change it. We know little about where Christie stands on the issue.
My questions to the candidates are:
- Do the number of municipal governments, school boards and other taxing districts help or hurt the state?
- How?
- Assuming there are too many, how would you reduce them?
Their answers should be considered when everyone in the state goes into their voting booths in November.
Hank Kalet 