From the Jersey Journal:
Politicians double-dip to earn 6-digit paychecks
Social Security paychecks? Fuggedaboutit.
A large number of Hudson County pols are bankrolling a career in public life into cozy, taxpayer funded retirement plan thanks to spreading themselves out in a number of different jobs, according to The Jersey Journal’s review of state pension records.
The Journal review shows that 13 elected officials in Hudson County earn six-figure salaries – and a host of others below that threshold – through a combination of different public jobs, including two pols who rank third and fifth in the state when it comes to prolific pension takers.
Embattled Jersey City School Superintendent and state Assemblyman Charles T. Epps Jr. tops the Hudson County list – and ranks third in the state – with a combined salary of $268,993. That does not include his $1,000 a month in a housing allowance as superintendent. Epps did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Nicholas Sacco, a frequent target of government reformers for his bevy of vocations, finished second in the county and fifth in the state with a combined salary of $247,558 related to his jobs as state senator, North Bergen mayor and assistant superintendent in the North Bergen School District.
“I strongly disagree with any suggestion that my 39-year career in public service constitutes any pension abuse,” Sacco said in a written statement. “If three different people held the same positions that I hold, the cost to the taxpayer for salaries and pension would be the same and health benefit costs would actually be higher. To suggest anything else is a deliberate attempt to mislead people.”
and sacco , without shame, believes its ok.
I make 42k a year(before taxes) with 700.00 a month taking out for Health care. And this guy is a public servant making how much!!!
““If three different people held the same positions that I hold, the cost to the taxpayer for salaries and pension would be the same and health benefit costs would actually be higher.”
Well, isn’t he just brilliant!!! Unless he also works 24 hours a day (3 jobs x 8 hours/day) or is three times as efficient as everyone else, then he’s costing taxpayers money. Unreal that he would say something like that…
OK, on second saracstic though, maybe politicos SHOULD all make six figures so that maybe they would stop writing legislation that screws those of us who do!!!
Does Hudson lead in the corruption stakes, or is it a tie with Essex – see the UMDMJ story in the Star Ledger this morning. I don’t mind paying taxes for health and schools – but I very much mind when it doesn’t go to the kids and the ill.
But remember this is Hudson County, it is a right!!
these Dbags will take anything they can get
their hands on , including the salt and pepper
shakers at a free lunch.
whos kidding who, hudson, bergen, mercer
all the same.
Just like Michelle states:
“If three different people held the same positions that I hold, the cost to the taxpayer for salaries and pension would be the same and health benefit costs would actually be higher. To suggest anything else is a deliberate attempt to mislead people.”
The flaw isn’t with this pri*k, but a state that allows one person to get three paychecks. I thought the idea of streamlining any bureaucracy is to eliminate extra workers and the PAYCHECKS they would receive….
Hudson County may have the reputation, but there are no pikers anywhere when it comes to corruption and this sort of double, triple, quintuple or whatever dealing. Monmouth County and Ocean County is filled with people like this. For years Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Powers had three other state jobs, and former Senate President John Bennett was filling municipal legal posts to up his pension as well.
Even in this heavily Republican area the Dems managed to get their share too. Red Bank Mayor Ed McKenna was building his pension as the attorney for Tinton Falls, and Belmar’s Ken Pringle is the attorney for Red Bank right now.
Allowing lawyers to fill “part-time” municipal positions with $70K salaries while maintaining private practices is a huge part of this.
“If three different people held the same positions that I hold, the cost to the taxpayer for salaries and pension would be the same and health benefit costs would actually be higher.”
I think he’s right to an extent; the health benefit costs would be higher if 3 different people held the 3 positions. But so what?
The bigger question for me is, since these 3 positions can be adequately done by one person, why should we not combine them into one full time position, with one reasonable salary and pension? And I would say, sorry, we’re cutting your total salary in half. $130K is very reasonable for a full-time job in public service. The president of the US only gets 200K but this clown gets $260K??? That’s nuts.
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