Office of the Governor

One Legislator’s “Garbage” is Another Taxpayer’s “Treasure”

Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tags: Ethics and Accountability

THE DO-NOTHING LEGISLATURE'S REPORT CARD

Only 63 Days Left for the Do-Nothing Legislature to Act

New Jersey Taxpayers Were Forced to Pay at Least $43 Million
for Public Employee Sick Leave / Vacation Payouts Over the Last Year

“He's on the road. Every time he says it, "I'll own it once they pass my toolkit.' My point is: Governor, that argument is garbage. We passed it. We absolutely passed it. We did the things that actually had impact.”

- Senate President Steve Sweeney, 4/14/2011

While the leader of the Do-Nothing Legislature continues to break promises and ignore his own timetables, New Jersey taxpayers continue to suffer from the legislature’s inaction on the critical property-tax relief measures offered in Governor Christie’s tool kit. Below are just a few examples of the enormous public employee unused sick leave and vacation payouts that New Jersey taxpayers were forced to cough up over the last year. In Jersey City alone, the $15 million payout equates to a $240 tax on the average residential property taxpayer.|

As long as the legislative leadership continues to play political games and label needed sick leave and vacation payout reform as “garbage,” New Jersey property taxpayers will be forced to continue footing the bill every year.

MUNICIPALITY / MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT / MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES	UNUSED SICK / VACATION PAYOUT COST
Jersey City	More Than $15 million
Atlantic City	$7.1 million
Newark Fire Department	About $6.1 million
Camden	More Than $3.5 million
Hackensack	$3.3 million
Parsippany	$3 million
Trenton	About $2 million
East Orange	Nearly $1 million
Stafford Township	Nearly $723,000
Passaic	$600,000
South Brunswick	$525,000
West New York Mayor’s Chief of Staff	$306,324
Somerville Superintendent	More Than $80,000
Wall Police Chief	$80,000
Total	Approximately 43.314 million

Sources:

(“Amid layoffs, cash-strapped cities must reimburse unused sick and vacation time to retirees,” The Star-Ledger, 4/10/2011)

(“Cashing in on Sick & Vacation Days,” NJN News Desk, 3/24/2011)

(“Wall police chief receives $80K in unused vacation days, sick pay,” The Star-Ledger, 2/11/2011)

(“Retirements Cost NJ Town Nearly $723K,” Associated Press, 10/25/2010)

(“Passaic will borrow money to pay unused sick time and vacation time to city employees,” Associated Press, 9/28/2010)

(“Unused vacation, sick time means extra money for retired superintendent,” Courier-Post, 8/7/2010)

(“Retired West New York mayoral aide will receive a $306K payout,” Jersey Journal, 6/16/2010)

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Press Contact: Michael Drewniak Kevin Roberts 609-777-2600

One Legislator’s “Garbage” is Another Taxpayer’s “Treasure”

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