Administration eyes public-private partnerships, plan-driven funding

November 10. 2011 11:58AM

Administration eyes public-private partnerships, plan-driven funding

Officials in Gov. Chris Christie's administration are close to recommending New Jersey join 23 other states in passing a law authorizing public-private partnerships, a senior official said today.

The partnerships would include transportation projects and other areas, according to Wayne Hasenbalg, Christie's deputy chief of staff for policy and planning.

Hasenbalg also told the infrastructure advocacy group New Jersey Alliance for Action in a brief speech that the administration is preparing significant changes in support of the state growth plan announced by Christie.

"It's more than a big planning exercise, it really is a strategic growth document," Hasenbalg said.

A steering committee led by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is looking to reconcile 54 separate state laws related to planning, each with its own set of regulations.

The state also is looking at planning-related discretionary funding, such as housing funds, to target public investments to support the plan. That could include a focus on industry growth clusters like technology companies.

The state also is closing in on a plan for sustaining higher education capital funding. Christie has emphasized the need to tie this funding to the plan, Hasenbalg said.

"It's always tied to economic growth and job creation," he said of the administration's planning efforts.

Hasenbalg said the Alliance for Action is one of the better advocacy groups in the state.

He has worked with the group since the early 1980s, when he attended meetings that laid the groundwork for the state Transportation Trust Fund.

Alliance President Philip K. Beachem noted Hasenbalg is the key administration contact for a range of business issues, working to ensure that business advocates are heard.