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ATLANTIC CITY — Contrary to the purpose of his sweeping state furlough program, Gov. Jon S. Corzine will not save taxpayers one penny by forcing hundreds of employees at two New Jersey casino agencies to take two days of unpaid leave in May and June.

That’s because the operations and salaries at the Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement are funded entirely by Atlantic City’s $4.55 billion casino industry, not the taxpayers.

Corzine plans to furlough tens of thousands of state workers for one day in May and another in June to help close a deficit in the state budget. The state Treasury Department estimates the savings at about $25 million.

In the case of the Casino Control Commission and Division of Gaming Enforcement, the furloughs will not result in taxpayer savings because the 11 Atlantic City casinos finance the expenses of the two regulatory agencies through licensing fees and assessments. The furloughs will be done anyway, forcing both agencies to close on those days.

“The governor’s office has asked all state employees to share in this effort to address the state’s budget crisis,” Casino Control Commission spokesman Daniel Heneghan said. “We are being treated as any other state employees are.”

Robert Corrales, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office, referred questions Monday from The Press of Atlantic City to the commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement. Josh Lichtblau, director of the DGE, declined to comment.

Commission employees will take their furloughs May 15 and June 12, while workers at the DGE are scheduled for May 22 and June 29.

Interestingly, casinos will save money on the furlough days because they will be relieved then of the operating and salary costs at both agencies.

However, the casinos will not shut down on those days because some state inspectors will remain on the job to oversee gaming operations. Furloughs involving the gaming inspectors will be done on staggered dates to avoid having the casinos close.

“Careful consideration was given to the selection of all furlough dates with an emphasis upon minimizing any disruption to the public, the casino industry and its employees and business partners,” commission chair Linda M. Kassekert said in a notice posted on the agency’s Web site.

The commission has about 290 employees. The DGE has nearly 300, although about 65 of them are state troopers who exempt from the furlough program. Together, the two agencies oversee state gaming regulations and conduct investigations of casino licensees and their vendors.

When the offices are closed, members of the public will not be able to apply for casino licenses or be fingerprinted as part of the background checks to work in the industry. The DGE will also have to shut down a facility in Atlantic City where new slot machines are tested before they are allowed on the casino floor.

1 comment:

• B4real (268) posts 1:31 am

  My question is, why does the state need 600 employees to oversee 11 casinos owned by 4 companies. Even with the vendors included, it's just another bloated, expensive state bureaucracy.

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