NJ facing 20% reduction in government services
The fiscal crisis in New Jersey’s governments and schools will continue through 2017 as a result of a $13 billion revenue shortfall, ($8 billion on the state level, $5 billion on the local, county and school levels combined) according to a report, Facing Our Future, released by the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers. (CNJG)
NJSpotlight and Bloomberg have write ups on the report.
The report says New Jersey will face a gradual cut in government services of 20%. Increased classroom sizes, from 22 to 28, less police officers and the elimination of services all together.
CNJG recommends solutions we have all heard before. Shared services, consolidations, more county government and less municipal government, county administration of schools.
One thing that is not clear from the write-ups. $7 billion of the $8 billion state revenue shortfall will be pension contributions negotiated by Governor Christie and the Democratic legislature in last years “landmark” pension and benefit reform bill.
One solution not recommended in the report….break the government employees unions’ control of our government.
In 2010 the unions said no to give backs. Thus, New Jersey suffered increased class sizes and police layoffs in our cities. Crime continues to rise in Newark and Camden, but our elected officials can’t do anything about that because the unions control how many police officers can be hired given the money available to pay them.
New Jersey pays unemployment benefits to laid off police officers not to patrol the streets of our cities, while the high paid officers who kept their jobs do the best they can. There are less extreme examples of needless service cutbacks throughout the state.
Practically speaking, there is no question that New Jersey’s public employees control the government. Not the people. Not the elected officials.
New Jersey’s fiscal crisis could be solved easily if the law of supply and demand were applied to the labor market for government workers. Until that happens, if it ever happens, we will continue to pay more for less.
It doesn’t matter how we restructure government so long as the employees are in charge.
More from my site
Government of the unions, by the unions, for the unions
Christie Administration Announces Contract Agreement With Third-Largest Public Employee Negotiations Unit
The Cheese Heads Are Coming! The Cheese Heads Are Coming!
Trenton Twilight Zone
Pension and Health Care Bill Signing Broadcast Live at 2PM
O’Scanlon: Trenton Dems to blame for NJ’s credit downgrades
Governor Chris Christie’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Address 
NJ budget won’t get much help from state economy, expert warns
N.J. credit rating cut record ninth time as Moody’s cites pension shortfall
One Government Employee For Every 17 People
I notice that Governor Scott Walker is 9 points AHEAD in his recall election and that the greater part of the people are happy with what he has done.
The difference between N.J. and Wisconsin is that Republicans hold the legislature there.
Too bad NJ taxpayers can’t understand that Christie needs a legislature that can break the unions. But then, redistricting made that impossible.
NJ & You – Fracked Together.
[…] tip to our old friend Art at MMM for hitting this nail squarely on its head: In 2010 the unions said no to give backs. Thus, New […]
If you don’t think the business of education is political or that the unions don’t control the legislature take a look at the NJEA pac contributions. 11 million plus, a new record for a pac .