New Jersey's Gov. Plans Will Cripple State Services

Governor Jon Corzine’s intention is to reduce the work force to the 75,000 positions that were on the payroll in 2002. But his aides argue that reaching that level will require significant improvements in efficiency because in 2004, the deprivatization of the motor vehicles department added 3,000 positions, and 900 additional child-welfare caseworkers were hired under a court order.

Mr. Corzine relied mostly on attrition to cut 1,800 jobs during his first two years in office, with effects varying by department. In the attorney general’s office, which lost more than 140 lawyers and 105 investigators, the remaining staff has to work longer hours to handle heavier caseloads.