Union Lawmakers Question Waste & Abuse Detailed in New Report on State Motor Vehicle Commission
Assembly Democrats Annette Quijano and Joseph Cryan (both D-Union) on Monday called on the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to explain the waste and abuse detailed in a new report released today by the State Auditor.
Chief among the report’s findings was that the MVC failed to procure an anticipated savings of roughly $11 million per year because it continued to pay a contractor – Parsons Environment & Infrastructure Group – nearly the same rate to perform inspections even after the state eliminated the safety inspection requirement. The report also detailed several other missed savings opportunities, as well as the questionable use of the MVC’s own vehicle fleet by employees.
“This report paints a picture of the MVC as nothing short of dysfunctional,” said Quijano. “Wasteful spending on overpaid contractors and the questionable use of state vehicles and E-Z pass transponders all end up being a burden that falls squarely on the shoulders of taxpayers. The MVC appears to have a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mentality when it forces residents to deal with reductions in services and facility closings while it refuses to tighten its own purse strings.”
“The elimination of safety inspections was intended to procure a sizeable savings for the state,” said Cryan. “Instead, the MVC continued to pay a contractor essentially the same rate for performing less work. Without any explanation on MVC’s part, this equates to blatant thievery. It also adds insult to injury for the countless residents who have seen their services cut and facilities closed.