Chris Christie is promoting his tell-it-like-it-is style of governing with town-hall meetings in New Hampshire before a possible White House run. Back home, attendees of such forums haven’t heard the whole story of the pension mess throwing New Jersey’s budget into disarray.
What’s missing from the Republican’s weekly narrative, during which he blames Democrats and public unions for the employee costs crowding out other spending, is that he shares the culpability. Record retirements in response to his first-term benefit reductions contributed to the state’s $83 billion pension-funding shortfall; Another wave of departures looms as Christie seeks a second round of cutbacks. (Young/Bloomberg)
we are looking at a good 25 to 30 thousand workers to leave the work force . and part timers who are not trained will not cut it. this state is going down fast.just look at ridgewood ‘s work force. all departments are at the lowest amount of workers ever. and yet the b o e is at the most ever in work force in all school’s. they have a 100 , mill to spend this year.
You can thank police and fire for that. They cost more and more every year and squeeze the Village’s ability to spend on everything else. Public safety wages + pension and healthcare benefits now consume over 54% of our Village budget so they can protect us from PSE&G and Verizon workers, as well as reset fire alarms at Valley.