Scutari Legislation to Prohibit Retroactive Salary Increases for Elected Officials Heads to the Governor’s Desk

Bill Passes both Houses with Overwhelming, Bipartisan Support

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas Scutari, which would prohibit retroactive salary increases for all elected officials throughout the state, passed through the Assembly with unanimous support and is now on the governor’s desk.

“I am glad this bill will make it to the governor’s desk. Elected officials should not have the capability to give themselves retroactive salary increases, especially when there are so many working people in New Jersey who are suffering,” said Senator Scutari (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “As elected officials in the legislature, we are prohibited from giving ourselves retroactive raises and bonuses. No elected official should be able to collect back pay upon salary increases. The overwhelming-bipartisan support this legislation has garnered underscores my desire to prohibit this moral depravity.

“I brought forward this piece of  legislation because as public officials we aim to foster a climate of accountability in government, and to prevent career politicians from increasing their bank accounts by paying themselves for work they have already been paid for. The enactment of this legislation will put an end to this unfortunate exploitation of taxpayer dollars by local elected officials,” Scutari said.

The basis for this legislations is, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead raised his salary from $73,425 to $100,000 a year;  receiving a 36 percent retroactive pay raise, resulting in Armstead receiving a check for $26,575 of back pay for 11 months of work.

The bill, S-3369/A-5090, would retroactively go into effect December, 1 2018.

This legislation would solely apply to elected officials, not collectively bargained public employees or other government employees.

The bill was released from the Senate by a vote of 32-1 and from the Assembly by a vote of 75-0. The bill now awaits the governor’s signature.