(TRENTON) – A look at property tax and government spending reform bills advanced and approved so far by the Assembly in 2010:
· A-3393 sponsored by Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) to change public worker arbitration system to require both sides to submit “fair and final” offers, ensure a more varied groups of arbitrators decide cases and require the new 2 percent property tax cap to be specifically considered by arbitrators. Advanced by Assembly Budget Committee, set for Monday Assembly vote.
· A-3392 sponsored by Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) and Nelson Albano (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) to limit unused sick leave payouts for all current and future public officers and employees to no more than $15,000. Advanced by Assembly Budget Committee, set for Monday Assembly vote.
· A-1646 sponsored by Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) to require just one sample ballot to be delivered to each residential address. Advanced by Assembly Budget Committee.
· A-2031 and A-207 sponsored by Ralph Caputo (D-Essex), Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex) and Albert Coutinho (D-Essex) to help municipalities save on training costs by allowing them to hire laid-off police and fire firefighters. A-2031 signed into law in July; A-207 awaiting final Assembly concurrence on Monday.
· A-2078 sponsored by Joseph Cryan (D-Union), John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) and Elease Evans (D-Passaic/Bergen) to give county freeholders veto authority over actions of local authorities to rein in the power of quasi-independent agencies. Signed into law in August.
· A-2300 sponsored by Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) and Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset/Middlesex) to clarify state government’s responsibility for funding evaluation of some special education children. Signed into law in September.
· A-2459 sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) to make numerous changes to public worker pensions. Signed into law in March.
· A-2460 sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) to make numerous changes to public worker health benefits. Signed into law in March.
· A-2461 sponsored by Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) to make additional changes to other public employee benefits. Signed into law in March.
· A-2499 sponsored by Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to prohibit lobbyists from enrolling in state-funded pension and benefit systems. Advanced by Assembly Appropriations Committee.
· A-2505 sponsored by Nellie Pou (D-Passaic/Bergen), Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) and Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen) to restrict pay and benefits for workers at state and local government authorities. Approved 77-0 by Assembly on June 28.
· A-2573 sponsored Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D-Middlesex) to make the position of treasurer of school monies optional. Signed into law in July.
· A-2844 sponsored by Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden), Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden), Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) and Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) to increase public knowledge of local spending that drives property taxes by requiring local government budgets to be posted on the Internet. Approved by Assembly on Sept. 30.
· A-2911 sponsored by Joan Quigley and Vincent Prieto (both D-Hudson) to require excessive local library surpluses to be used for property tax relief. Concurrence with governor’s conditional veto approved 69-0 by Assembly on Sept. 30.
· A-2950 sponsored by John Wisniewski and Craig Coughlin (both D-Middlesex) to streamline requirements for the local government reserve for uncollected taxes so that local governments don’t over collect from residents. Signed into law in August.
· A-3065 sponsored by John McKeon (D-Essex), John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Camden), John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden) to lower the property tax levy cap from 4 percent to 2 percent. Approved 73-4 by Assembly in July.
· A-3204 sponsored by John McKeon (D-Essex), John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) and Fred Scalera (D-Essex/Passaic/Bergen) to allow more groups to file complaints against unfunded state mandates. Approved 75-0 by Assembly on Sept. 30
· A 3268 sponsored by John McKeon (D-Essex), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), Charles Mainor (D-Hudson) and Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) to give municipalities discretion in implementing Municipal Court security plans. Advanced by Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.
· A-3272 sponsored by John McKeon (D-Essex), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), Charles Mainor (D-Hudson) and Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) to save municipalities money by revising master plan re-examination requirements. Approved 75-0 by Assembly on Sept. 30.
· A-3358 sponsored by Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) to authorize formation of state college risk management groups and joint liability funds. Advanced by Assembly Budget Committee.