Thomas Neff Named Director of Division of Local Government Services

TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Lori Grifa today announced the appointment of Thomas Neff as Director of the DCA's Division of Local Government Services. He begins his duties on September 13.

"The Division is getting a leader who has tirelessly worked for years to control government spending and reign in property taxes here in New Jersey," said Commissioner Grifa. "Tom's experience in budgeting and municipal finance and his understanding of the intricacies of municipal state aid will assist local governments in improving their efficiency and help move Governor Christie’s property tax reform agenda forward."

As Director of the Division of Local Government Services, Neff will lead a staff responsible for providing technical and financial assistance in budgeting, financial reporting, shared services, purchasing and management issues to local governments across the state. He will also chair the Local Finance Board, a government body at the DCA that promulgates rules and regulations on the fiscal operations and fiscal reporting of all New Jersey municipalities, counties, local authorities and special districts.

"I look forward to working with Commissioner Grifa and the rest of DCA to advance the Governor's efforts to control spending and taxes on behalf of taxpayers," said Neff.

Neff has more than 18 years of public finance experience through positions in both the government and private sectors in New Jersey. He was most recently Deputy Executive Director of the Office of the Senate Minority in the New Jersey Legislature. While there, he managed a staff that served members of the Senate Republican Caucus and initiated efforts to reign in government spending, limit taxes, and spur business growth in New Jersey.

Earlier in his career, Neff served as Budget Counsel to Governors Christine Todd Whitman and Donald DiFrancesco and worked for a major law firm in New Jersey that specializes in public finance and redevelopment law.

Neff was Chair of the Council on Local Mandates and has been a practicing attorney since 1998. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree from Connecticut College.

Neff resides in Lake Como, NJ, where he previously served as a member of the school board.

For further information on the Division of Local Government Services, please go to www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/ on the DCA website.


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