Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande attempted to eliminate a special perk that allows county park police chief to receive terminal leave – in addition to their pension and other payouts for unused sick and vacation time – if their county abolishes its county park police force.

Casagrande attempted to amend A-3166, which attempts to help counties that have merged local police departments into a county-wide force.

“This bill is designed to save taxpayers money through efficiency, shared services and consolidation, yet it contradicts itself by preserving a wasteful perk in state law that gives terminal leave to county park police chiefs whose departments have been abolished,” Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said. “Many Trenton politicians who sanctioned this law, are the same ones who decry every time we read about another six-figure payout to a retiring public employee.

“Any legislator who voted for this legislation shouldn’t wonder why the next time we read about a $400,000 payout to a retiring police chief,” Casagrande added. “I believe we should eliminate this golden parachute and end the practice of paying public employees for unused sick pay.”

Casagrande said the Assembly squandered an opportunity to eliminate the next wasteful payout before it occurs.

“Many times we read about these exorbitant payouts before it’s too late to do anything about it,” Casagrande said. “We had a perfect opportunity today to act before another taxpayer dollar is wasted.”

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