If local officials can make the case for higher taxes, they should do it. If they can't, then they don't get their tax increase. Next, we have to give mayors and councilmembers the civil service reform they've asked for. Nearly 70 cents of every dollar spent in government goes to pay the salaries and benefits of civil servants. Yet we retain a system in which it's almost impossible to to reward success - or punish failure.
New Jersey is served by many fine public employees.
Rewarding success is good for them, good for managers, and good for taxpayers. Mayors have asked for civil service reform. Capable civil servants will benefit from it. And the taxpayers deserve it. So, I'm going to begin by ordering two regulatory changes.