Your government is calling
The Times of Trenton Editorials
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Staff  Writer

The Garden State is graced with a variety of natural resources, including one seldom-mentioned commodity that just may be the key not only to surviving these tough times, but thriving.

It's "Jersey gumption," in the words of Harry Pozycki, chairman of the nonpartisan Citizens' Campaign. And he'd like to harness that grit and determination to cut the costs of local government. He's got the maps all ready.

The proposals are aimed at stopping the chronic drip-drip-drip of tax dollars that has become so constant, it's no longer noticed. Some are intended to help dissolve the stubborn resistance to mergers among the 566 separate government entities that mince New Jersey into a crazy quilt of duplicative services. For instance, there is a call to establish or join a regional emergency dispatch service.

Another proposal we endorse is eliminating benefits for part-time elected officials and professionals. That step alone could save municipalities an enormous amount of money, perhaps as much as $100,000 each, and could well pave the way for more shared and efficient services.

Also suggested is a "Salary Sunshine Online model law by which municipalities would place on their website the top five salaries for each department, their overtime costs and all labor contracts." It's an excellent idea: Residents, who are, after all, the employers, should have some oversight of their employees. The proposal comes in response to a blood-boiling report released in November by the State Commission on Investigation, which documented a continuing culture of abuses, waste and double dipping in New Jersey's local government.

In Union City, for example, "all civilian municipal employees receive one day's leave at full pay every year for Christmas shopping. This is in addition to five other personal days, 16 paid holidays -- including a half-day each on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve -- and, depending on length of service with the city, between 10 and 25 vacation days annually."

Other ideas include sharing computer equipment between the municipality and the school board; performing energy audits; merging zoning and planning boards for small towns; contracting with counties for road repairs; and contracting out vehicle maintenance.

But that's just the beginning of the brainstorming. We encourage residents to explore the website (jointhecampaign.com).

And, lest you think gumption and grit are no match for the inertia of business as usual in New Jersey, remember that Harry Pozycki helped lead the charge against pay-to-play dealings with the government. That Goliath fell, and the state is infinitely the better for it.

The Citizens' Campaign's call for everyday people to help their government become more effective and efficient stands to make New Jersey even better. It's just a matter of answering the call.