WOODBURY, NJ – Attorney General Matt Platkin sharply criticized the $274,121 salary attached to former Senate President Steve Sweeney’s expected appointment as Gloucester County administrator, saying the pay highlights the need for independent government oversight at a time when that power is under threat.
Platkin’s comments came as Governor Phil Murphy faces growing backlash for his plan to strip the Office of the State Comptroller (OPA) of its independence and fold it under the Department of the Treasury — a move critics say would weaken one of New Jersey’s only checks on local and state government spending.
“A county administrator making $100k more than the current governor’s salary is a pretty good argument to keep the comptroller as an independent agency to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in local government,” Platkin posted Sunday on social media.
Sweeney’s appointment reignites debate over local spending
Sweeney, once one of the state’s most powerful political figures, is set to take over the Gloucester County administrator position left vacant by Democratic Chairman Chad Bruner on November 30. The job’s six-figure salary immediately drew attention from watchdogs and state officials, who said it underscores the need for robust financial oversight at the county level.
While the administrator role oversees budgeting and daily operations, the salary far exceeds the $175,000 earned by Governor Murphy and most cabinet-level officials. Platkin’s remarks framed the issue as emblematic of why the OPA’s independence is critical to detecting inefficiency and misuse of taxpayer funds across local governments.
Murphy proposal faces bipartisan pushback
Murphy’s proposal to place the OPA under Treasury control has met opposition from lawmakers, good-government advocates, and now the state’s top law enforcement officer. Established in 2007, the comptroller’s office operates independently to audit agencies, review public contracts, and investigate fraud in both state and municipal governments.
Critics argue that moving the OPA under the Treasury Department would compromise its autonomy by putting its oversight functions inside the very branch it is meant to scrutinize. Supporters of the governor’s plan claim the change would improve administrative efficiency, but Platkin and others say it risks silencing an essential watchdog.
High local salaries draw scrutiny as oversight weakens
Sweeney’s anticipated appointment — and its pay scale — has amplified concerns about unchecked local spending, particularly in counties and municipalities with limited financial transparency. Platkin’s public rebuke added weight to calls from lawmakers who have urged Murphy to abandon his plan to curtail the comptroller’s independence.
Sweeney, 66, a longtime South Jersey political power broker, has not publicly commented on the criticism. He previously served as Senate president from 2010 to 2022 and lost his seat in a surprise 2021 election upset.
The Gloucester County Board of Commissioners has not yet formally confirmed Sweeney’s appointment.