The new contract was approved unanimously by the council.“This is an issue that’s been facing a lot of our school districts,” said Sen.

Many police officers were on hand at Tuesday night’s township council meeting, however none spoke publicly. When the law expired, unions regained the right to negotiate their contribution levels. In some communities – notably in school districts, including Toms River – unions have begun to request reduced contributions toward their healthcare coverage since Chapter 78, passed under the administration of former Gov. “It’s not fair to the people who live here, especially those on fixed incomes, to have to pay for increases as well as their own.”īergin said the same freeze was included in contracts with three other bargaining units. “People are leaving in droves, and they’re going to continue leaving in droves,” said Fanelli, referencing the cost of living in New Jersey. The freeze didn’t sit well with resident Vic Fanelli, who frequently criticizes the cost of benefits provided to public employees. Brick employees’ healthcare premiums, for family coverage, are estimated at market value to exceed $30,000 per year, however the township is self-insured and medical costs are paid directly by the township to physicians and hospitals through a third party administrator – historically, Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Officers’ contributions will remain tied to the now-expired Chapter 78 law which mandated contributions to healthcare premiums based on the type of coverage selected by the employee as well as the employee’s salary. “If a salary increase occurs and moves them into another contribution, they move.” “The healthcare contribution is frozen in their current tier,” said Bergin.

Brick township police salary