Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Tim Eustace, Gary Schaer and Vincent Mazzeo that would allow New Jersey counties and municipalities to save money by eliminating the statutory requirement that health officers and environmental health specialists receive the maximum salary within five years on the job was released Monday by an Assembly panel.
“Municipalities are cash-strapped and residents are paying the consequences in decreased services and higher taxes,” said Eustace (D-Bergen). “This bill would mean reduced costs for counties and municipalities by allowing them to establish salary ranges that require individuals in these positions to serve in those positions for a longer period of time in order to reach the maximum salary.”
The bill (A-2798) would remove the statutory requirement that health officers and registered environmental health specialists employed by municipalities receive the maximum salary within their range within five years from date of appointment. The bill would take effect immediately.
“Municipalities are doing more with less,” said Schaer (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Removing this requirement allows these employees to continue to receive earned salary increases, but at a pace that relieves struggling municipalities of the financial burden created by the restrictive five-year deadline.”
“Salaries make up the bulk of most municipal budgets,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “This bill provides an opportunity for municipalities to save money by pacing large salary increases for these employees, instead of giving them the maximum salary just a few years into the job.”
The measure was released by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.