The perks of public office.
Should part-time elected officials receive free health
benefits courtesy of North Arlington taxpayers?
What example will Bianchi & Hughes set for homeowners?
With
Republicans back on the governing body for the first time in three years,
it will be interesting to see if incoming council members Joseph Bianchi and
Richard Hughes opt to receive free health benefits courtesy of taxpayers.
Running as
a reformer and businessman, Mr. Bianchi in a South Bergenite interview election night said he
would seek to "lower taxes because I
don't believe the taxes should have gone up as high as they did."
While Mr.
Bianchi did not attend the final budget
hearing and made no statements on how to
reduce spending during the campaign, it will be interesting to see just
what he intends to do as a councilman to reduce the borough's municipal tax
rate.
"I am
eager to see just what Mr. Bianchi proposes to reduce local taxes. Will he call
for layoffs of municipal employees? Will he call for dramatic cuts in municipal
expenditures and overall spending? Will he seek to reduce the borough's
workforce? Will he hold the line in collective bargaining sessions with
municipal employees and ask for givebacks and concessions? Will he ask the
police department to take a pay freeze in the current negotiations? Will he
abolish the practice of longevity payments for future borough employees? For
someone to make a bold statement that he intends to lower the tax rate, when
will this plan be introduced to the public for analysis and
review?" questioned one interested Democrat upon reading Bianchi's
ambitious statements in the local press.
Elected
officials in the state of New Jersey not only
receive a part-time stipends for their service, but can also receive generous
health benefits that can be extended to spouses and other members of their
immediate families. In North Arlington, members of the borough council receive
about $9,000 a year or roughly $27,000 during a three-year term.
In
comparison, members of the North Arlington
Board of Education serve as volunteers and receive no compensation of any kind for public service. Members of
various boards such as Planning, Zoning, Health and Library all receive zero compensation for their time and
service.
"These
elected officials need to take a hard look at our financial picture. If
they're serious about protecting taxpayers, will they lead by
example? How do you run for office claiming
you can reduce expenditures when one of your first acts of office is to sign-up
for free health benefits?
During
last year's Town Meeting held in the North Arlington High School gymnasium, most residents were outraged to learn than
borough employees receive free health benefits with no co-payments.
In
addition to stipends and health benefits, all
elected officials become participants in the state's pension system. Many
elected officials use their part-time positions as spring boards to full-time government employment at other levels of government and time served in system even as a part-time official goes a long way in
helping elected officials become vested after ten years of service regardless
of full-time or part-time service.
While no
one is suggesting elected officials should not be compensated in some way for
their service, free health coverage courtesy
of taxpayers could run as high as $20,000 and double the financial remuneration
of the stipend received.
Back in
2002, former Mayor Russ Pitman made health
benefits for public officials an issue and did not accept such perks during
his term of office. Most of the Democrats
have followed Pitman's course of action and it will be interesting to see
if either Bianchi or Hughes will accept free health benefits as members of the
governing body.
"Given
the fact the Republicans ran solely on the 33% municipal tax hike, how will
they look homeowners in the face by accepting free perks upon coming to office? What is the financial example they are
setting? If either Bianchi or Hughes are truly serious about cutting
spending and reducing the tax rate, they will lead by example and not accept
free health benefits from the borough of North Arlington," said one voter
after being asked his opinion about these perks for elected officials.
With the
election over and litigation still looming with EnCap, no one really knows
where Bianchi & Hughes stand when it comes to the controversial developer.
"They
criticized Democrats when they blamed EnCap for part of the borough's financial
failures. How do they see it? What do they think caused taxes to increase? The
time to start answering the tough questions will begin when they take the oath
of office come January. My guess is that they'll contribute nothing and takes
cues from Republicans sitting in the audience or from their political advisors
figuring out what's the best way to disrupt local government. There inclusion
on the council has the makings of a very ugly year for taxpayers,"
observed one Democrat close to the Massa Administration.
