July 7, 2010

CASAGRANDE: WHAT COULD NEW JERSEY DO WITH $3.2 MILLION? OFFICE OF STATE COMPTROLLER FINDS WASTE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AREA

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, R-Monmouth and Mercer, said that today’s report from the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) which found the state was still paying for over 19,000 unused or unnecessary phone lines is further evidence that the effort to curtail waste is never-ending. The audit estimated that taxpayers will now save $3.2 million annually since the lines have been disconnected.

“Unfortunately, waste in government is pervasive and we must remain diligent in identifying those areas and rooting it out,” said Casagrande. “OSC deserves credit for finding a significant savings, but their resources are limited. I’m sure there are many other opportunities where waste exists and we need the cooperation of the public and government employees to point them out.”

Casagrande referred to the website she launched last year, www.stopgovernmentwastenj.com, as a confidential way for employees and the public to submit examples of government waste. In fact, the assemblywoman received a tip from a visitor to the site who identified the waste in the telecommunications area. Assemblywoman Casagrande then forwarded the information to the Christie Administration.

“The effort to identify waste is ongoing and no area of government is immune,” continued Casagrande. “Every dollar saved ads up. In this instance, $3.2 million represents a substantial savings.”

Casagrande also noted the audit’s findings that identified several telecommunications contracts that have been extended without undergoing the competitive bidding process. In one case cited, a contract had been extended 22 different times without being subjected to the process.

“One can only imagine how much it cost taxpayers because contracts were extended by a rubber-stamp without adhering to the prescribed format,” stated Casagrande. “Those who are accountable need to explain why they are unfamiliar with the bidding process for government contracts or how such an oversight could occur for so long. I suspect they won’t have a good answer. Extending a contract 22 times without competition is the ultimate in what constitutes a ‘no-bid.’”