As reported by northjersey.com, top Democratic lawmakers are rushing to extend the cap on police and firefighter pay raises that some say has helped keep property tax bills in check. But local officials say the bill expected to be voted on today in both the Assembly and State Senate includes too many loopholes to be
NJ Public Safety Officers
Renewal Of Two Percent Salary Cap Bills Move Through Senate And Assembly
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Interest Arbitration
As reported in the Newark Star Ledger, the New Jersey State Legislature is in the process of acting to renew the 2% Interest Arbitration Police and Fire Salary Cap. The State Assembly’s budget committee voted to approve bill (A3067), sponsored by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), that would temporarily extend an annual salary…
OLS: Christie Cannot Invoke “State of Emergency” To Cut Pensions
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by njspotlight.com, despite his threat to take “extreme measures” to control rising pension costs, Governor Chris Christie does not have the power to declare a fiscal “state of emergency” to make unilateral changes to the pension system, nor does New Jersey have the ability, like Detroit, to declare bankruptcy to get out from…
PERC Affirms Denial To Pay Automatic Salary Increments
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
In a recent decision, the Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) overturned decades of precedent in concluding that a public employer was not required to pay automatic increments to officers upon the expiration of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement. As you can expect, the decision, County of Atlantic and PBA Local 243, FOP Lodge 34 and…
Cincinnati Pension Referendum Seeks to Eliminate Public Employee Pension System
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by Cincinnati.com, there is currently a bill up for referendum tomorrow that will eliminate the public employee pension system and replace the same with a 401(k) style plan. The current situation in Cincinnati is similar to here in New Jersey, wherein the pension system is running an extremely high, unfunded liability. …
Bergen Freeholders To Vote Wednesday On County Police Merger
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the Democratic-controlled Board of Chosen Freeholders in Bergen County is scheduled to take a final vote Wednesday on an ordinance that makes the 88-member County Police Department a division of the Sheriff’s Office.
Four Democrats and two Republicans will likely vote to approve the merger. County Executive Kathleen Donovan has …
Booker Calls To End Private Prisons; Draws Ire Of DiVincenzo
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s call to end private prisons has drawn the ire of one of his staunchest and most powerful political allies: Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. In a far reaching proposal to reform America’s prison system, Booker had harsh words for the privately owned prison industry saying it created …
NJ Shelling Out $5M In Back Pay To Correction Officers
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey will soon begin shelling out millions of dollars in back pay to thousands of current and former corrections officers who participated in a training program that was approved for only a year but lasted a decade. The settlement, reached in May after years of litigation, is expected …
Camden County Towns To Study Possible Merger Of Police Departments
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, seven municipalities in Camden County have made a request for proposals looking into the possibility of consolidating the management of their respective police departments. The municipalities, Audubon, Collingswood, Haddonfield, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, Mount Ephraim, and Oaklyn, all independently authorized the RFPs, stating they are open to the idea of …
NJ Legislature Passes Resolution Claiming Civil Service Changes Violate State Constitution
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the Civil Service System governs how thousands of public employees in New Jersey are hired, promoted, and fired. Currently, employees receive jobs and move up based on examinations. But under the proposed changes, to be voted on by the State Civil Service Commission, some jobs would be grouped together as part …