Fixing Open Government in NJ

The Fixing Open Government Symposium, recently held at the State House and sponsored by the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, is now available on the web.

The keynote address by NJ State Comptroller Matthew Boxer is a must see for all local government watchdogs to appreciate how difficult their jobs are, as well as taxpayers who are trying to understand why it’s so hard to hold government accountable.

Matthew Boxer was sworn in as New Jersey’s first independent state comptroller on January 17, 2008. Boxer, 38, leads a staff responsible for overseeing audits and performance reviews at all levels of New Jersey government. The office audits government finances, examines the efficiency of government programs and scrutinizes government contracts. “The mission of the office is clear,” Boxer said after his swearing-in. “The Comptroller’s Office exists to bring greater efficiency and transparency to the operation of all levels of New Jersey’s government: from our town halls and schools, to our state agencies and our independent state authorities. Simply put, this state cannot afford to have its governmental entities wasting money that comes from the hard work of the taxpayers of this state.”

Boxer’s address is followed by a panel discussion on the problems with the state’s Government Records Council and the Open Public Records Act.

The symposium can be viewed HERE.

Tagged: Government Records Council, Matthew Boxer, open public records act