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.