REPORT: OVERTIME COSTS STATE ALMOST $230 MILLION

A new report says nearly $230 million was spent in overtime during 2010 by the state government. The Star-Ledger reports that $227 million was dished out, with an employee earning twice as much overtime as salary. The report suggests that the overtime payouts were in line with previous years. Gov. Chris Christie has emphasized running more efficient governments though, and has proposed hiring 137 people in the Department of Corrections, in order to keep overtime payouts low.