Assembly Republicans Caroline Casagrande, Nancy Muñoz, Donna Simon and Declan O’Scanlon, who sponsor legislation to end the practice of paying public employees for unused sick time, were pleased that Governor Christie remains committed to providing this vital property tax relief that has been blocked by some Trenton politicians.
“We have capped property taxes and saved billions by reforming public employee benefits. It’s time to finish the job and save property taxpayers from giving big checks to retiring public employees,” Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said. “Anyone who is serious about winning the war against sky-high property taxes should embrace this common sense reform.”
Governor Christie repeated his call for sick pay reform during yesterday’s budget address as part of the items needed to further improve New Jersey’s fiscal health.
“The historic bipartisan reforms we supported resulted in the slowest growth of property taxes in 24 years, after a decade of crushing increases,” Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz, R-Union, Somerset and Morris, said. “We can do even better for property taxpayers by enacting a sensible law that requires the use of sick days for what they were intended.”
Assembly Bill 2495, sponsored by 23 Assembly Republicans, would prohibit payments to public employees for unused sick leave. The legislation would also prohibit sick leave for those who have been indicted and require medical documentation for absences of six or more consecutive days.
“Bringing governments’ workplace policies in line with those in the private sector should be a no-brainer,” Assemblywoman Donna Simon, R-Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer and Middlesex, said. “In the public sector, the taxpayer is the boss and we can improve the bottom line for both property taxpayers and our state’s finances with this logical reform.”
A few recent examples have highlighted how much money unused sick time costs property taxpayers:
$2.2 million to 15 retiring Atlantic City employees this month
$306,000 amount former West New York mayoral aide claims she’s owed
$150,000 to Hackensack Police Chief
“Governor Christie has proposed a budget with the highest level of school aid and largest debt payment in state history, while we have achieved the smallest property tax growth in state history,” Assembly Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said. “Governments throughout New Jersey could deliver even more for taxpayers if Democrats in the Legislature agreed to work with us to eliminate these grotesque payments that have no practical purpose other than personal profit.” TLS.
This will not save the tax payers money but will cost them more. Right now public employees get paid for half their sick time apon retirement. If this bill passes they will use 100% of their sick time which will cause overtime rates to sky rockets. So instead of paying a $50 and hour employee $ 25 an hour for sick time the tax payer will be paying $75 an hours. If an office worker calls in sick they aren’t replaced but if a Fireman, policeman or first aider calls in sick they must be replaced by some one who will be getting paid overtime.
I’m sorry but I’ve worked in PRIVATE schools that also paid the teachers for unused sick days. Paying for unused sick days is just a way to make sure that teachers don’t take off too much. Cutting the payment will end up costing the state more when they pay for all the subs.
People work very hard to accumulate time and that comes with years of work. Sick time is not necessarily saved to get a check for what was unused! Things happen unexpectedly and if you did not have that time banked, you would not have the time nor the money for that “what if I” scenario. There are many different situations for every individual. I would think the people who have so much time would be considered a dedicated worker and not an abuser of the system!
We don’t get disability !!!!
The issue isn’t compensating them for unused sick days. Not to do so just means that they’ll get used and no one to encourage this. The problem is paying them out at the payrate at the time of payout instead of at the time of earning them. A teacher in 1984 banks a sick day worth $120 and gets paid $400 when retiring in 2013. THAT is what makes no sense.
when you work 20 years and your increase in salary changes, do you change the taxes withheld back 20 years also? It is a win-lose no matter which way you cut it. The clock does not stop for unused sick time. You could also die before you use your sick time, who benefits then? The should have would have could have is the way of life today. I’m thankful just to be healthy and not having to use it!!!!
Whats a paid sick day???
Guy, #7 If you had a job you would know