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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