As stated in NJ.com, in December of 2012, a former Jersey City municipal inspector, Bennie Anderson, took a $300 payoff to change the tax description on a building zoned for two units to one zoned for three units. Anderson pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to two years of probation, five months
Retiree Benefits
Under New Bill, NJ Police Officers, Firefighters Can Retire Early
As reported by NJ.com, nearly 8,000 New Jersey Police Officers and Firefighters with twenty (20) years of service can now retire early under a bill signed into law on Monday. The legislation, S107, known as the “burnout bill,” allows public safety workers who reach twenty (20) years of service within the next two years…
Assembly Votes On Bill Requiring Public Employees Guilty of Sexual Assault and/or Sexual Harassment To Forfeit Pensions
As reported by NJSpotlight.com, inspired by the nationwide campaign against sexual harassment known as the #MeToo movement, lawmakers in New Jersey are proposing a costly new punishment for elected officials and public workers who use their positions to commit a sexual assault or related offense. A bill that was easily approved by a State…
New Bloomberg Report Casts Dim Light on NJ’s Pension System
As reported by N.J.com, New Jersey’s distressed government worker pension system is now the worst funded in the U.S., according to a report by Bloomberg.
The Garden State’s public pension fund has languished near the bottom, but has now dropped below Kentucky and Illinois for last place, according to the report.
Their analysis compared…
Christie, NJEA Agree To Meet About Changes in Healthcare For Retirees
As reported by NJ.com, the New Jersey Education Association (“NJEA”) and Governor Chris Christie’s administration agreed to hold an information-only meeting on proposed changes to retiree healthcare. The administration took the teacher’s union to court to compel members who sit on the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission to attend commission meetings. They have boycotted…
NJEA, Christie Administration Fight In Court Over Public Retiree Health Coverage
As reported by NJ.com, a Superior Court judge is expected to decide whether to order members of the State’s teachers’ union in a dispute with Governor Chris Christie’s administration to give up its boycott of meetings setting health care benefits for public employees. The administration took members of the New Jersey Education Association who…
The Costs of Chapter 78, P.L., 2011 on New Jersey Retirees’ Healthcare Contributions
Chapter 78, P.L., 2011 (hereinafter referred to as “Chapter 78”) went into effect on June 28, 2011, and has increased the average healthcare contributions required of public employees substantially. However, not all employees and retirees are equally effected. This article will briefly outline the effect Chapter 78 will have on newly and prospective retirees.
Chapter…
Two Obamacare Taxes Likely to Be Delayed for Two Years
As reported by Morningconsult.com, with Congress just hours away from unveiling a new budget deal, it is increasingly likely that two prominent Obamacare taxes that help pay for the law — on medical devices and high-cost health plans (or “Cadillac Plans”) — will be delayed for two years.
Congressional negotiations have been overlapping on…
Christie Tells State Pension Fund Trustee’s That They Have No Authority to Request an Audit
As reported by Samantha Marcus of NJ.Com, The Trustees of one of New Jersey’s largest government employee pension funds say they have been told by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration that they have no authority to request an audit of their fund’s investments, valued at about $80 billion.
New Jersey’s Credit Rating May Fall Yet Again Based on the Outcome of The COLA Pension Suit
In accordance with an article published on NJ.Com this past week, New Jersey’s low-end credit rating could fall again if the state Supreme Court rules that retired public workers are entitled to yearly increases (COLA) in their pensions, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
A lawsuit challenging one of Governor Christie’s pension-reform laws is pending at…