NJBIA Supports Two

Shared Services Bills 

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association is supporting two bills this morning that will promote shared services and potential cost savings for local and county governments.

NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Christopher Emigholz said bills S-1 and S-446, which will be voted on this morning by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, represent efforts to exercise some much-needed fiscal discipline for the state.

“New Jersey’s financial problems are deeply systemic,” Emigholz said. “In these challenging fiscal times for our state, recognizing cost-savings and passing them down to our property taxpayers should be the goal of all of our policymakers – even if it means making some tough decisions.

“We feel these bills take positive steps in that direction and we will continue to support them, and other responsible legislation aimed at creating meaningful efficiencies and reducing the high cost of government in New Jersey.”

S-1, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11), encourages shared service agreements and joint contracts through modification of the “Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act.” Some modifications also include civil service relief for shared service agreements.

This bill is part of the Path to Progress report, issued by the New Jersey Fiscal Policy Working Group in 2018.

S-446, sponsored by Sweeney and Sen. Michael Doherty (R-23), would permit two or more adjoining counties to share county tax administrators and clerical assistants.