SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 490

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 18, 1996

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 490 (1R).

      Presently, the salary of county prosecutors is set at $100,000.00. The bill would increase this salary to $115,000.00. The bill contains language providing for an annual appropriation to the Department of Community Affairs to reimburse the counties for any additional costs resulting from any increase in the salary of county prosecutors above $100,000.00.

      To cover the salary increase for this year, the bill would appropriate $157,000.00 to Community Affairs. If enacted the bill would be retroactive to January 1, 1996.

      The bill repeals several statutes governing the salaries of first assistant prosecutors, county prosecutor's principal assistants and assistant county prosecutors. The bill provides that in the future the annual salaries of first assistant prosecutors and other assistant prosecutors would be set by the board of freeholders of each county in consultation with the county prosecutor; however, the salaries of persons serving in these positions prior to the effective date of this bill would not be reduced.

FISCAL IMPACT

      The bill appropriates $157,500 from the General Fund to the Department of Community Affairs for payments to each county for the increase in the salary of each county prosecutor. This amount represents one half of the annual salary increase for Fiscal Year 1996.

      It is estimated that the cost to the State of this bill for the three years following its effective date will be $945,000.