As Privatization Task Force Begins, Waste is Exposed in Privatization in New Jersey Schools

As Chris Christie's Washington-lobbyist led and industry-executive-packed privatization task force begins hearings in Trenton today, a new report has shown New Jersey taxpayers are overpaying private food management firms as taxpayers funded payroll costs to private companies that the companies didn't actually incur.  The study, which examined 10 of New Jersey's more than 500 school disctricts, showed that taxpayers in those districts were cheated out of $320,000 in one year.

And as everyone from Chris Christie to the task force Chair Dick Zimmer admits privatization has been a spectacular failure in New Jersey, the engines are full speed ahead.  On top of that, school cafeteria workers in Long Branch were allegedly disciplined lately just for trying to form a union.

As the task force begins its deliberations today, it's important to note the differences between private and public services:

As the task force starts its work today, let's hope they are on a mission to save taxpayers money, not an ideologically-driven crusade that scapegoats hardworking public servants in New Jersey.