New Jersey towns and school districts owe public employees almost $2 billion for unused sick days, a retirement perk that has survived bipartisan efforts at reform, reports NJ Spotlight.
According to the report, if these payouts were spread across the state, every New Jerseyan would have to pony up $207 to cover them.
Looked at another way, property taxes — already the highest in America– would jump 11 percent statewide if these obligations came due immediately.
Here are Greater Morristown’s obligations, according to the survey:
Morris School District:
Amount owed: $3,816,697
Number of pupils: 5,229
Amount per pupil: $730
Morristown:
Amount owed: $2,352,495
Due in 2016 or 2016-17: $125,000
Population: 18,594
Amount per person: $127
Morris Township:
Total amount $1,397,533
Due in 2016 or 2016-17: $50,000
Population: 22,633
Amount per person: $62
Morris Plains School District:
Total amount $ 52,675
Due in 2016 or 2016-17: N/A
Enrollment: 604
Amount per pupil: $87
Morris Plains Borough:
Total amount: $392,080
Due in 2016 or 2016-17: $ 1,000
Population: 5,626
Amount per person: $70
Morris County (towns only, excludes schools):
Total amount: $10,630,902
Due in 2016 or 2016-17: $0
Population: 499,509
Amount per person: $21
Although pay for unused absences was capped at $15,000 in 2010, public employees hired before that at school districts, towns, and counties were grandfathered under their prior agreements.
More town numbers from NJ Spotlight are here.
