Senate and Assembly pass 2% Cap; Governor to sign soon 07.12.2010

As expected the Senate and General Assembly both passed the “compromise” property tax cap and Governor Christie will sign the bill into law soon.  The bill reduces the current cap on increases in the property tax levy from 4% to 2% and eliminates nearly all of the exemptions. The bill eliminated the waiver to exceed the cap for public safety purposes and it does not take into account existing collective bargaining agreements.  The bill does provide exemptions from the cap for pension and health benefit costs.  Finally, the bill provides that the cap can be exceeded only by a 50% plus 1 vote of the public via referendum.

The State PBA strongly opposed this legislation, as it did the 4% cap and Senator Sweeney’s 2.9% cap proposal, because it does not take into account the need for local governments to provide for the public safety.  The State PBA presented focused exemption language to prevent layoffs but the Legislature, despite several members acknowledging our concern, moved quickly to score political points in the face of the Governor’s continued onslaught against them.  The reality of this bill will be severe – without more State aid to local governments, municipalities will be forced to layoff police officers and cut back essential law enforcement services.  While we are formulating a plan to work within the confines of this new law, the immediate impact is not positive.  It is therefore shocking and disappointing that the State FOP sent out a letter to its members ENDORSING the cap bill.  Their reasoning is beyond comprehension as layoffs will hit FOP members just as hard. 

The State PBA now turns its attention to the Governor’s “toolkit” proposal that would eliminate civil service and end binding arbitration as we know it, among other things.  We will continue to spend the summer meeting with Legislative leadership, individual members and Mayors to protect the safety of our officers and the rights we require to be treated fairly for the difficult job we do for our communities.
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                                 2009 EWPBA FUNDRAISER

The East Windsor PBA Local #191 has recently sent out it's 2010 fund drive.  Your continued support is important for us to continue supporting the local, state and national charities that we annually donate to.  If you have not received your letter in the mail and would like to make a donation, please feel free to contact either PO Wayne Hummel at (609)448-5678 ext. 645 or at hummel@ewpd.com or PO Scott Brown at (609)448-5678 ext. 644 or brown@ewpd.com.  If you are not a resident or merchant of East Windsor and have received our fund drive letter in error, we encourage you to donate to your local police union.  Once again, thank your for your support.  As always:

EAST WINDSOR PBA 191 DOES NOT EVER SOLICIT BY PHONE 

 

 

24th Annual Golf Classic - I would like to thank all the sponsors and golfers that participated in our annual tournament which was held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at the Mercer Oaks Country Club, Princeton Jct., NJ. We would like to thank all of our players and sponsors for making this outing such a success and invite you to join us next year.  See some of the pictures from past outings in our photo album.  For information on our golf classic please contact PO Wayne Hummel at (609) 448-5678 ext. 645 or by e-mail at hummel@ewpd.com for details.

Youth Explorer Program - EWPBA #191 is sponsoring a new Explorer post headquartered from the East Windsor Township Police Department.  There was a "First Nighter" held on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the East Windsor Police Department.  See some of the pictures from the night in our ohoto album.  Any 15-20 year olds interested in a career in law enforcement who would like to see what it is all about, please call (609) 448-5678 ext. 228 or ext. 231 or e-mail: brady@ewpd.com or gorski@ewpd.com.