Matthew J. Knittel, 43, will be the first executive director of an agency that’s intended to act as a legislative counterweight to the Office of the Budget in the executive branch. His first day is expected to be Sept. 19 and he’ll be paid $130,000.

State Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, who sponsored the bill creating the new office, called Knittel a “strong selection” who has “the level of independence to make sure the office maintains its credibility.”

According to a statement sent out by Pileggi’s office, Knittel holds a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University, where he also earned an M.A. in economics. He also holds two bachelor’s degrees, in economics and business administration, from Hope College in Holland, Mich.

In a statement, Knittel, a New England native, said the new fiscal office will be a “great tool to help lawmakers craft policy.”

“Much like the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C., the IFO will provide revenue and expenditure projections to help lawmakers make informed decisions and target limited resources to their best use,” he said. “The office will also undertake special studies and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the public.”

Knittel was chosen from 19 candidates by a selection committee comprised of the presiding officers of the House and Senate, the four floor leaders and the two chairmen and two ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Knittel applied for the job after seeing it advertised on the website of the National Association of State Budget Officers.

Lawmakers approved, and Gov. Tom Corbett signed, a $1.9 million appropriation for the office in the fiscal 2011-2012 state budget.