Friday, July 9, 2010

NorthJersey.com: Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services

NorthJersey.com: Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services

Christie looks to privatize motor vehicle inspections, other services
Friday, July 9, 2010
LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY JULY 8, 2010, 10:20 PM
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
New Jersey would close its centralized car inspection lanes and motorists would pay for their own emissions tests under a sweeping set of recommendations set to be released by the Christie administration today.
Governor Christie
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Governor Christie
State parks, psychiatric hospitals and even turnpike toll booths could also be run by private operators, according to the 57-page report on privatization obtained by The Star-Ledger. Preschool classrooms would no longer be built at public expense, state employees would pay for parking and private vendors would dish out food, deliver health care and run education programs behind prison walls.
All told, the report says, New Jersey could save at least $210 million a year by delivering an array of services through private hands.
"The question has to be, ‘Why do you continue to operate in a manner that’s more costly and less effective?’ rather than, ‘Why change?’ " said Richard Zimmer, the