NJ.Com’s Chris Megerian points out some serious waste recently discovered by a comptroller audit:
The state is spending $3.2 million a year on nearly 20,000 unused landlines and mobile phones, according to a comptroller report released Wednesday. That means about one of every six government phone lines isn’t needed.
“Examples of government waste don’t get much clearer than that,” Comptroller Matthew Boxer said.
This kind of incompetence is exactly why New Jersey residents have a low rate of confidence in state workers and little patience for their demands for more and more tax money. Not one to keep silent, the Governor’s office weighs in:
Michael Drewniak, spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie, praised the comptroller for revealing “ridiculous” waste.
“It’s a symptom of what’s wrong with state operations in New Jersey,” he said. “This is just the sort of waste and inefficiency that will not be allowed to continue.”
This kind of audit and the willingness of the state to advertise it shows a real change in the climate in Trenton. I have a suggestion for the next audit. How about analysing the fleet of state vehicles that travel home with state employees every day? I am sure that many of the policies around these vehicles save the state money. But I am willing to bet that an audit of that fleet would save a lot more than $3.2 million. Citizens should know:
1. Who drives the vehicle
2.What that vehicle is used for
3. Where is goes on a daily basis
4. How much it costs the taxpayer
5. Why is that more cost effective than following federal expense reimbursement guidelines on personal vehicles
Just a thought….
Read the entire article here.