Retirement payouts for current public employees would be capped or frozen under a measure described as compromise to help local governments deal with six-figure payments for employees’ unused sick time. Employees in certain districts or towns can — sometimes with encouragement from employers — work rather than take vacation or sick days. While towns can save money on overtime in the current budget year, future payments in some instances are made at workers’ higher final salary rates. The bill (S2220) would cap the end-of-career payment at $15,000 for employees who haven’t reached that magic number, and freeze payments for workers already over that limit. Read more in Star Ledger