Only 3 percent of state's local agencies post budget info online Watch video
State Comptroller Matthew Boxer speaks at the Statehouse in this June photo.TRENTON — Only 3 percent of New Jersey's local agencies post budget information online, shrouding their financial activities in secret for most of the general public, according to a report from the state comptroller released today.
More than a third of the agencies don't even have a website, the report said.
New Jersey government has taken steps toward greater transparency on public spending. Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill last month requiring the Department of Community Affairs to post the budget of any municipality or county that doesn't have its own website.
But State Comptroller Matthew Boxer said there are nearly 600 other taxpayer-funded local agencies that receive far less scrutiny. That includes utilities and sewerage authorities, fire districts and county parks commissions.
"When you have so many different government units spending public dollars, it becomes difficult for even the most attentive members of the public to monitor how their money is being spent," Boxer said in a statement. "Too often the public never hears about these local agencies until scandals unfold. But we pay for these agencies every day — when we pay tolls, when we pay our water bills and when we pay our property taxes."
For example, the Newark Housing Authority maintains a website and posts some details on public meetings. But there are no financial reports on the site, according to the report.
Tory Gunsolley, chief administrative officer for the Newark Housing Authority, questioned the accuracy of the comptroller's report. He said a financial audit and spending plans are posted on its website.
"Our budget is not currently posted online. But there is a ton of information that is there," he said. "We're trying to be transparent."
Only seven agencies satisfied all of the comptroller's benchmarks, which also included posting mission statements and lists of officials in charge: Mount Laurel Township Fire Department; Camden Housing Authority; Joint Insurance Funds for Atlantic County and Burlington County; Gloucester-Salem-Cumberland Joint Insurance Fund; and Improvement Authorities for Mercer County and Passaic County.
Read the comptroller's full report here.
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Chris Christie unveils plan for legislators to be more transparent about their finances
• The Auditor: Transparency in Trenton