TRENTON, N.J. – The Schools Development Authority (SDA) was back in the news this week when 30 employees were terminated, 27 of which were reportedly connected to the notorious authority’s disgraced former CEO.
Some believe the authority has out-lived its usefulness. Republican Assembly members BettyLou DeCroce and Christopher P. DePhillips have proposed legislation to dissolve the currently independent SDA once and for all.
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Under the pair’s proposal, the authority’s core functions – primarily overseeing school construction projects in 31 districts – would be absorbed by the Treasury Department’s Division of Property Management and Construction which overseas state-owned real estate (and projects including the current Statehouse renovation project).
SDA-generated debt costs taxpayers $1 billion annually.
“The next step is to eliminate the SDA,” explained DePhillips. “Years of inept management have delayed progress for low-income students and hit taxpayers with billions in debt. It’s obviously time for a sweeping change.”
The idea has support on both sides of the aisle; Democrat Senate President Steve Sweeney is also supportive of the effort to end the SDA.
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