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🚨Incoming THREAD🚨 on changes in NJ State Government staffing levels from 2008 through 2017 per the 2017 NJ Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR - pg. 370)...if you had to guess whether NJ's workforce grew or shrank, which would it be? #mathisreal state.nj.us/treasury/omb/p…
Some of the big 👀 popping numbers:
Dept of Health's workforce is down 46% since 2008 from 1,978 to 1,074. So about 900 fewer workers. Think that might have an impact on health inspections & whatnot?
Dept of Health's workforce is down 46% since 2008 from 1,978 to 1,074. So about 900 fewer workers. Think that might have an impact on health inspections & whatnot?
Dept of Human Services, which is responsible for a whole lot w/ regard to the safety net & delivery of critical programs, dropped from 15,684 in 2008 to 11,306 in 2017 for a reduction of 23% - or 4,300ish. Think that might make it tougher to have an efficient welfare system?
Dept of Treasury. 2008: 3,757 to 2017: 3,083. Nearly 700 fewer workers. A reduction of 18%. Think that might make it harder for us to file tax returns, accurately assess working family tax credits, or do much of anything accurately & quickly re: the budget?
Dept of Labor & Workforce went from 3,418 in 2008 to 2,696 in 2017. 21% drop. Gonna be tough to enforce these minimum wage & wage theft laws w/o a proper staff size.
Dept of Environmental Protection. Important for checking in contaminated sites, lead remediation in homes & schools, etc. etc. etc. Critical stuff. Dropped from 3,241 in '08 to 2,665 in '17. 18% drop. How can we expect them to do enough inspections in the field w/ limited staff?
One more: Dept of Transportation. Critical to the state's economy & transit infrastructure. 2008: 6,161. 2017: 5,214. Drop of 15%. It's ok, we don't need them out checking our roads & bridges & tunnels to ensure they're up to code or anything.
So when anyone says to you that NJ has a spending problem & not a revenue problem, refer them to this. Our state govt has already been cut to the bone. Depts are being tasked w/ huge initiatives w/o the necessary staff lvls to be successful. It's total madness. See table below. 
It's the oldest play in the book to cut taxes, leave govt w/o necessary resources to succeed, then point & say "look, it doesn't work!" No duh, you cut its legs out from under it. Right now, NJ needs more state workers throughout all departments. Not a single one hasn't been cut.
All of this is to say, don't let anyone tell you NJ doesn't need more revenue. Between this, preparing for an economic downturn/recession, & needing to improve our credit rating, we need more revenue. The #millionairestax is a simple, rational, important start. #fin
