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Beck, Oroho Submit Legislation to Stop Simultaneous Collection of Pensions, Public Paychecks

Trenton— Senators Jennifer Beck (R- Monmouth/Mercer) and Steve Oroho (R- Sussex/Hunterdon/Morris) have submitted legislation aimed at ending abuse of the state’s pension system. The bill, S-2716, would prohibit retired public employees that return to government service from collecting pension payments while on payroll.

“Pension payments should only be collected by those who have left the government payroll,” said Senator Beck. “Public employees who game the system by collecting a paycheck and a pension check simultaneously commit the worst kind of double dipping. New Jersey’s taxpayers are tapped out, our pension system woefully underfunded, and neither can tolerate this sort of abuse. Nobody should be able to line their pockets in this manner at public expense.”

The bill prohibits any public employee in the state retirement system from collecting a pension if he or she resumes public employment and is compensated more than $15, 000 annually. Those returning to service after retirement would not accumulate additional pension credits. The bill applies to all state pension plans.

“We must protect New Jersey’s pension systems and it is critically important that we protect the qualified status of those pensions, as well as end any unnecessary strains on the funds,” Oroho added. “There are a variety of good reasons retirees may wish to return to the workforce. However, for the purposes of collecting a pension, and to protect the qualified status of the plans, retired means retired.”

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Posted: March 2nd, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Jennifer Beck, Pensions, Press Release | Tags: , , , | 8 Comments »

8 Comments on “Beck, Oroho Submit Legislation to Stop Simultaneous Collection of Pensions, Public Paychecks”

  1. Jim Sage, Marlboro said at 11:01 am on March 2nd, 2011:

    It’s about damn time!! I have been calling her office (without any reply) since October when the pension scandal at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department broke out the last week of October. If you recall, her district was the epicenter of fraud when Dr. Wasser and others was stripped of their doctorate degrees earned at a bogus online diploma mill.

    Now lets see if Jennifer calls it for what it is in the Monmouth County Sheriffs Dept–WRONG!! The pension systems of the state are getting severely depleted. Donovan MUST return any monies he was not entitled to.

    http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2010/11/17/1440/

  2. Barry said at 11:24 am on March 2nd, 2011:

    Any statute would have to be prospective. So no money would be repaid. Mr. Sage seenmed silent to what happened in his town when the Business Administrator (recently deceased) who retired from Manalapan was collecting her salary from Marlboro and a pension for about two years.

  3. Jim Sage, Marlboro said at 11:32 am on March 2nd, 2011:

    Barry,

    Sheriff Shaun Golden by having Mr. Donovan change titles–from Chief to Undersheriff–legally permits Mr. Donovan to collect a pension AND a salary. undersheriff, unlike chief, is not a pension covered position. This matter has been under investigation by the Treasury Department/Division of Benefits and Pensions. A ruling should be out by the end of this month.

    In conclusion, it is permissible to retire from a state pension system and collect a government salary–but in the case at the sheriff’s department–it was not!

  4. Jim Sage, Marlboro said at 11:55 am on March 2nd, 2011:

    Barry, I forgot to add: Shaun Golden, as CEO of the department should know what pension systems his divisional chiefs are placed into. As you know, Golden has been in the administration in various capacities (undersheriff, acting-sheriff, sheriff) When Mr. Golden re-organized the sheriff’s department during the first month he became sheriff, he did not have on the table of organization the position of “Chief Warrant Officer.” However, the Monmouth County Department of Personnel was informed by the Sheriffs Office, he was hired as “Chief Warrant Officer.” The public was informed via a press release he was hired as Chief Warrant Officer. This was a lie! A totally fictitious position! Was this fraud?? Deceit?? You read and you decide.

    Mr. Donovan, only recently (2/15/11), after yet another re-organization– was lateralled into the authorized position of Undersheriff, LikeI said earlier, this does entitle him to a pension AND salary. Legal? yes; immoral and unethical? ABSOLUTELY!! Taxpayer abuse–YEP!

    Barry, I have in my possession through OPRA requests, the “Table of Organization” of the Sheriff’s Department. So far, three changes in the last year. It seems leadership over there is hell bent on keeping Mr. Donovan on the taxpayer rolls!

  5. sour grapes in Marlboro said at 2:30 pm on March 2nd, 2011:

    Still around Sage? How’s the snakeoil sales business going. Did Brophy’s ass heal from the election day raping yet?

  6. tip-of- the iceberg said at 3:19 pm on March 2nd, 2011:

    Dear Barry

    Read the article…if it is determined that Mr. Donovan violated pension rules, he will have to pay back to the pension system all those monies he has taken out during his hire as a chief/LE, with the department.

    As for the BA at Marlboro, she (Alayne Shepler–RIP), was hired under a consultant contract, at a huge savings to the taxpayers of Marlboro.

    Admit, it was wrong what happened at the Sheriff’s Dept.

  7. Barry said at 5:24 pm on March 2nd, 2011:

    I do not see a link and nowhere in what was posted does it state this will apply retroactively.

  8. Jim Sage, Marlboro said at 6:11 pm on March 2nd, 2011:

    Barry

    There is a hyperlink in the story in paragraph 10, “Donovan could be forced to repay the state”

    Furthermore, I added this information from the NJ Treasury Department. Read,”PFRS Enrollment Requirements” It requires the re-payment of all monies while receiving a pension when one should have had pension payments suspended and just received a salary.

    http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/epbam/exhibits/factsheets/fact29.pdf

    As for the woman working as a Business Admin. in Marlboro…I had no knowledge if she was in violation of any pension laws. Had she been, I would have objected to that.

    If you have known, I would have hoped you said something. Like they say, “See something, say something.”

    One more thing: This must be a sore subject with the Sheriff’s Office. I had an operative of the sheriff come to my house on 7–yes, 7 occasions, in a failed effort to keep me from talking about this and other failings with the department leadership.