Governor Chris Christie once again exercised his veto authority to check inappropriate practices by state authorities by vetoing minutes of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. At their meeting on January 19^th , 2011, the NJRA approved a 2011 administrative budget which contained three percent discretionary raises for staff and funds for employees to select gifts from a catalog pursuant to an “Employee Service Awards Program.”
In vetoing the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority meeting minutes, dated January 19th , 2011, Governor Christie cited the “inappropriate” nature of the budget allocations for discretionary raises and employee gift program, which contradict with the Governor’s stated goal of maintaining fiscal prudence in the board, commission and authority spending practices.
Governor Christie also noted that, “the approved Administrative Budget did not reflect line items for these inappropriate expenditures; rather, information concerning these expenditures was provided only after repeated requests for additional details. Such expenditures contradict my stated goal of fiscal prudence. For these reasons, I am compelled to veto the resolution which approved the FY2011 Administrative Budget.”
This becomes Governor Christie’s eighteenth veto taken against various state authorities and commissions since taking office.
