SR114

A Senate Resolution urging part-time members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments to waive a portion of the compensation received for their services and to reimburse the public entity for its contribution to a State-administered retirement system for their membership.

Whereas, The State of New Jersey is now experiencing a severe budget crisis that requires significant reductions in expenditures in this current Fiscal Year of 2009 and very difficult decisions on budget allocations for the next Fiscal Year of 2010; and

Whereas, Governor Corzine has announced that he will require State employees to take one unpaid furlough day in May and one in June in order to contribute to reductions in expenditures in Fiscal Year 2009, and there continue to be discussions concerning wage freezes and the possibility of layoffs to get through this crisis; and

Whereas, Senate President Codey and General Assembly Speaker Roberts have announced that State legislators and employees in the Legislative Branch are also going to take unpaid furlough days to help close the gap in the Fiscal Year 2009 State budget resulting from lower than expected revenues; and

Whereas, It is appropriate at this time for everyone who provides services for the State or for local governments to share fairly in the sacrifices being made as the State, local governments, and taxpayers grapple with the devastating economic conditions we are all facing; and

Whereas, Members of several boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments are required to meet just a few times a year in return for a salary or a per diem payment, membership in a State-administered retirement system, and health care benefits provided by the public entity; and

Whereas, Many members of boards, commission, and authorities of the State or of local governments have other sources of income and are in positions that enable them to bear the financial burden, including any potential tax or benefit consequences, that may be caused by waiving a portion of the salary or per diem payment they receive for their services; and

Whereas, It is only fair to ask those who were fortunate enough to have secured positions on publicly-funded boards, commissions, and authorities to contribute to the collective effort to get through this economic downturn, even if the amount of the contribution may be relatively small in some instances; and

Whereas, The members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State or of local governments who provide their services on a part-time basis equivalent to less than 25 hours per week should waive, before June 30, 2009, three-months’ worth of the salary or per diem payments they receive annually, and should reimburse the public entity for the portion, that represents their membership, of the 2009 contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system; and

Whereas, This is not the time for anyone to be standing on the sidelines watching while others take action to deal with the problems at hand because we will only get through this difficult time if we all work and contribute together; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House urges members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State, and of any political subdivision of the State, who provide service on a part-time basis that is equivalent to less than 25 hours of work per week and who receive a salary or a per diem payment for that service to waive, before June 30, 2009, the receipt of an amount equivalent to three months of the salary or per diem payment received annually. The House also urges that such members reimburse the boards, commissions, and authorities for the portion, that represents that member’s membership, of the 2009 contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system.

2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested to by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and the New Jersey Association of Counties.

STATEMENT

This Senate Resolution urges members of boards, commissions, and authorities of the State and of local governments in this State, who provide service on a part-time basis for less than 25 hours per week and who receive a salary or a per diem payment for that service to waive, before June 30, 2009, the receipt of an amount equivalent to three months of the salary or per diem payment received annually. The House also urges that such members reimburse the boards, commissions, and authorities for the portion, that represents the member’s membership, of the 2009 contribution paid by the public entity to a State-administered retirement system