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But they chipped in $483,681 less than in 2010

Companies holding contracts with New Jersey governments reported making $9.1 million in political contributions in 2011, a $483,681 or 5 percent decline from a year earlier, state Election Law Enforcement Commission Director Jeff Brindle announced Thursday.

Brindle noted that while the total amount of contributions were down for the fifth straight year, the decrease was the smallest since 2007.

“The long-term trend remains the same, but the rate of decline seems to be slowing,’’ Brindle said. “Pay-to-play is certainly achieving its original intent, which was to dampen contribution activity by public contractors.”

Contributions from contractors peaked in 2007 at $16.4 million. In 2009, they contributed $10,867,725; in 2008, $ 12,102,993, and in 2006, $ 15,093,816.

“There is another story as well,” Brindle said. “Public officials in recent years have been under pressure and have striven to cut budgets. That may be one reason why overall contracts are down 49 percent since 2006.”

Total contracts reported by contractors also fell last year. Contractors reported $5.3 billion in total government work, down $516 million, or 9 percent, from 2010.

Another trend uncovered by an ELEC analysis is that contractors are making substantially more contributions to continuing political committees, better known as political action committees (PACs). Many are operated by special interests, such as businesses or unions. Others appear to be special interest PACs but actually are affiliated with political parties.

In 2006, the first year when contractors had to report their contributions to ELEC, they reported giving just under $1.3 million, or 8.6 percent of their total contributions, to these two types of PACs. Last year, the total had reached $1.6 million, or about 17.8 percent.

“In some cases, contractors may be evading the intent of pay-to-play restrictions and contribution limits by giving indirectly through these PACs,” Brindle said. “That is why the commission has recommended making it harder for one candidate or group to establish multiple, affiliated PACs. The Federal Election Commission already has such regulations.’’

Four PACs were among the top ten recipients of contractor contributions in 2011.

CSC NJ CPC (Cablevision) received $ 145,200, Constructors for Good Government $ 139,310, Wallace Simmons and Barnes for Freeholder $ 134,300, Tomaro for Freeholder $ 125,175, Barrett for Freeholder $ 120,675, Cappelli & McCray for Freeholder $ 117,600, GOPAC $ 116,600, Victory 2011 $ 96,835

Sweeney Burzichelli and Riley $ 95,878, and Verizon Good Government Club - New Jersey $ 90,060

While the total value of contracts fell, the number of contracts was up. Businesses reported 23,249 contracts in 2011, the largest total since 2006. The number was up 25 percent from a year earlier.

The number of business entities filing reports was down 9 percent to 1,927, the lowest count since 2008.

Here are the ten firms that reported the largest contract totals for 2011: Horizon Healthcare of New Jersey Inc. $ 1,717,387,622, Amerigroup New Jersey Inc. $ 468,591,745, Verizon New Jersey Inc. $ 250,151,868, Colonial Bank FSB $ 159,023,815, Earle Asphalt Company $ 116,506,200, Creamer-Sanzari Joint Venture $ 92,164,605, Tilcon New York Inc. $ 87,391,352,

George Harms Construction Co. Inc. $ 72,023,507, Union Paving & Construction Co. Inc. $ 69,067,908, and South State Inc. $ 54,697,488

Here are the firms that reported the largest contribution totals for 2011: T&M Associates $ 454,070, Remington & Vernick Engineers Inc. $ 437,700, Maser Consulting P.A. $ 251,555, Pennoni Associates Inc. $ 249,660, Verizon New Jersey Inc. $ 222,010, Parker McCay P.A. $ 180,200, Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader LLC $153,623, Winning Strategies Washington LLC $133,259, Princeton Public Affairs Group Inc. $ 131,509, and Birdsall Services Group $ 129,700

State government was the largest source of contracts in 2011, followed by municipalities, independent authorities, counties, school boards, fire districts, and the Legislature.

Here are the number of contracts by public entity type in 2011: State 1,166, $2,988,074,763; Municipality 9,182, $752,189,032; Independent Authority 2,271, $ 693,630,318; County 1,774, $428,023,562; School Board 3,803, $356,656,507; No Information 4,445, $89,820,872; Fire District 591, $3,573,745, and Legislature 17, $13,313.

Brindle stressed the 2011 numbers are preliminary. He said they reflect information available to the commission through Monday. He said some contractors are likely to submit amendments after that date that could change the totals.

Reports from 2011 and earlier years are available at ELEC’s website at www.elec.state.nj.us.

--TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM