PRESS ADVISORY                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 16, 2008                           

Contact: Ron Filan 609-677-0707

 

PROTECT TAXPAYERS NOW, CHANGE THE PENSION SYSTEM

ATLANTIC COUNTY – Freeholder candidates Tom Ballistreri and Manny Aponte have joined with Freeholders Dase and McDevitt in the call for changes to the state’s pension system.

“Freeholders Dase and McDevitt have discovered a significant flaw in the pension system which needs to be addressed by the NJ State Legislature,” said Tom Ballistreri, candidate for an at-large freeholder seat. 

Current state law requires all newly-elected officials to enroll in the state’s defined contribution retirement program.  Only newly elected officials making less than $5,000 can waive enrollment into the program.  Ballistreri and Aponte want any elected officials who want to opt out of the system to be able to waive their enrollment.  Under the program, taxpayers contribute 3% of the elected official’s base salary towards the official’s retirement.

“No public employee should be forced to accept enrollment in the pension system if they want to opt out,” said Aponte, who has pledged to opt out of the pension plan if elected.

“New Jersey residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation.  Our state government is on the verge of bankruptcy. Any time there is an opportunity to save taxpayers’ money, we should take it.” 

Ballistreri and Aponte want to bring this costly practice to the attention of the State Legislature and work with Assemblymen Amodeo and Polistina to introduce legislation that amends the current law.

“The current law defies common sense,” said Ballistreri.  “The majority of the Atlantic County Freeholder Board, Manny, and I can clearly see the law needs to be changed. We believe this resolution should have passed 9-0 and it was unfortunate that Freeholders Alisa Cooper and Charles Garrett did not support it."

“Atlantic County government, led by Dennis Levinson and Joe Silipena, has raised the bar for the entire state when it comes to prudently managing taxpayer money,” said Aponte.  “We need to continue to seek similar reforms that protect taxpayers and reduce the cost and size of government immediately.”