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September 28, 2017
Trenton, NJ
League Statement on Release of Interest Arbitration Task Force Report
League Executive Director Michael J. Darcy issues the following comment today:
Property taxes remain the number one concern for New
Jersey’s taxpayers. In 2010, the State Legislature and Governor put
in place, on a bipartisan basis, a 2% property tax cap.
Then to provide local governments a necessary tool to keep
under this cap, a 2% cap on interest arbitration for police
and fire unions was adopted and due to its success was extended in
2014.
Echoing what the Interest Arbitration Task Force has
previously found, the report released today, and the underlying data,
demonstrates the continued success of the interest arbitration cap in
containing property tax increases and facilitating negotiations between
local governments and the respective public safety unions, including a
reduction in the number of petitions, reduction in open interest
arbitration matters, and a reduction in appeals. Further, the data
demonstrates that not only has the number of recruits for both police
and fire increased but the number of applicants with Bachelor, Master
or Doctorate degrees has also increased and crime rates have continued
to fall.
It is imperative that the Legislature take prompt action
to extend the cap when they reconvene. The possible sunset of the
interest arbitration cap in December is of great concern, and we look
forward to working with our state and public safety union leaders
sooner rather than later on this issue.
Contact: Email Michael Cerra, Assistant Executive Director or call him at 609-695-3481, ext. 120
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