LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

No. 100

STATE OF NEW JERSEY211th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: FEBRUARY 18, 2005

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Proposes constitutional amendment to establish Office of Lieutenant Governor and revise gubernatorial succession.

Type of Impact:

None.

Agencies Affected:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

State Cost

None

None

None

 

 

    This Concurrent Resolution proposes to amend the State constitution to establish the position of Lieutenant Governor.

    Requires the Lieutenant Governor to receive a salary for services performed, but also permits the Governor to appoint the Lieutenant Governor to serve as the head of a department or agency, which should offset some costs that may be incurred.

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 100 of 2005 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Office of Lieutenant Governor and revise gubernatorial succession. The Lieutenant Governor would serve a four-year term concurrent with the term of Governor. The first Lieutenant Governor would be elected at the general election in 2009. This concurrent resolution permits the Governor to appoint the Lieutenant Governor to service as the head of a State department or agency or to perform other duties as assigned by the Governor, or both.

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that this concurrent resolution may have no fiscal impact. However, the Office of Legislative Services notes that a survey of northeastern states (Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York) indicates that costs of a Lieutenant Governor's office range from $450,000 to $800,000 with staffing ranges from five to seven employees. These costs do not include any election costs that may be incurred on the local level, such as ballot changes and other related election costs.

      The Office of Legislative Services further notes that should the Governor decide, or should subsequent statutes provide for the establishment of a salary and staff for the Lieutenant Governor, separate from that of the head of the principal department to which the Lieutenant Governor may be appointed, there would be a budgetary impact. Such impact, however, would follow from subsequent actions and not necessarily from the constitutional amendment.

 

 

Section:

State Government

Analyst:

James F. Vari

Senior Fiscal Analyst         

Approved:

David J. Rosen

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.