Mass Turnpike no savings, less scrutiny under state DOT - Connaughton

Mary Z Connaughton, former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board member and an accountant by profession says folding the Turnpike into a new state department of transportation as "reform" is a flop. She notes in a column she has just written - published in MetroWest Daily News Dec 13 - that claims before the merger of a $6.5b saving over 20 years are now being downplayed by the Patrick administration.

In fact the number of six-figure salaries in the consolidated DOT are up 20% over those in all the prior separate transit, toll and highway agencies, the Boston Globe reports. And there is no sign of a promised staff reduction of 300 people.

Major savings now being claimed by the Patrick administration in the merger is the avoidance of a $250m penalty payment on one of the Turnpike's notorious "swaption deals" that came to grief in the financial meltdown of 2007-2008.

"To now claim consolidating agencies as the fix that avoided the costly payout is a stretch," says Connnaughton, because the $250m in averted penalties followed a pledge of $100/yr of state sales tax money that was independent of the reorganization.

Connaughton notes that the opportunity for board supervision and public scrutiny has been notably reduced in the merger. In place of monthly meetings at the Turnpike Authority the DOT's policymaking board will only meet quarterly.

And whereas at the Turnpike Authority the chief executive only had unilateral control up to $350k at the state DOT the board must only be consulted when deals are over $25m.

Connaughton writes that "tens of millions in contract spending that could have been debated openly in a public meeting (at the Turnpike Authority), will be awarded behind closed doors."

BACKGROUND: Connaughton is running for election as state Auditor Nov 2010. See http://maryforauditor.com/

TOLLROADSnews 2009-12-14