The forces of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took over broad powers of administration in Atlantic City yesterday, including the ability to fire city managers, restructure the city budget, and reject contracts with unions

, according to an article on pressofatlanticcity.com.

The agreement outlines 22 specific provisions of the Local Government Supervision Act which the state could invoke to overhaul city finances. The purpose of the state’s move was to save the sinking city from a $9.5 million operating deficit.

The takeover followed a finding Tuesday by a Superior Court judge, Valerie Armstrong, that the city had committed “a gross failure” to abide by state budget laws.

Under the agreement the state could appoint or dismiss non-unionized employees, direct all aspects of tax assessment, and liquidate or restructure city debt, according to the Press news service.

The state characterized the takeover as assistance, and called it “a very positive development...a very friendly level of assistance.”

That takes care of that problem. As for the Meadowlands, that issue appears to remain in negotiation in Trenton, but as reported here yesterday the track’s horsemen were assured by their president, Tom Luchento, that there would be a harness racing meeting of 100 days or more in 2011.

(With files from pressofatlanticcity.com and Harness Tracks of America)