Bills call for more Web info from N.J.

TRENTON - Dozens of New Jersey's government-related authorities, commissions, and agencies do not have an online presence, and critics say most of those that do fail to post basic information about their work and finances.

So lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature have introduced measures that would mandate that all agencies put certain information online to provide more transparency about their missions, spending, and activities.

The bills would implement changes recommended by the state comptroller, whose office issued a report finding that more than a third of New Jersey's independent local authorities and commissions do not have websites and that only 3 percent post financial reports online.

Of the agencies that do offer information online, the comptroller report said, many omit basic details such as financial reports, schedules, agendas, and meeting minutes.

The Comptroller's Office analyzed the level of online transparency of the state's 587 independent local authorities and commissions, which together spend more than $5 billion of public money annually and have more than $5 billion in public debt. They also account for about 10,000 employees in the state pension system.

Only seven agencies satisfied all transparency measures the Comptroller's Office used. But some officials said the report did not take into account the costs of designing, staffing, and updating websites, adding that many volunteer agencies struggle to cover basic operational costs.

Proponents, though, say taxpayers deserve easy access to basic information about these entities. The agencies subject to the comptroller's review were local authorities and commissions, fire districts, housing authorities, joint insurance funds, workforce investment boards, soil conservation districts, Urban Enterprise Zone development corporations, regional health commissions, and county parks commissions.

"It's just flat-out wrong that only seven . . . satisfied all the transparency measures tested as part of the comptroller's analysis," said Assemblyman Dan Benson. He and fellow Mercer County Democrat Wayne DeAngelo are the bill's primary sponsors in the Assembly.

They introduced the measure last month, and it has been referred to the Housing and Local Government Committee, which has not scheduled a hearing.

"It's unfortunate that we need a bill like this, but clearly these agencies won't provide transparency on their own, so it's time to take action," DeAngelo said.

Similar legislation was introduced by Sen. Linda Greenstein (D., Mercer) and has been referred to the Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

The measures would require that all the entities have websites that include basic contact information for the person or member who oversees its operations; its mission statements, rules, resolutions, and policy statements; its current budget and audit (as well as those for the last three years); annual comprehensive financial statements; and meeting schedules and meeting minutes.