Christie Trumpets Pension Cuts in Paramus

In a visit to Paramus on Wednesday, Gov. Chris Christie said the savings gained from his package of pension cuts that passed this summer would lead to nearly $1 million in savings for Paramus.

The cuts will save local governments $267 million across the state, Christie said.

Christie held court in , after originally planning to appear at a the Abbott Road home of Louis and Maria Scalera. The Scaleras were on hand and met with the governor before he spoke, but the rain led to the press conference being moved.

The governor said the pension and benefit cuts, along with reforms like the 2% cap on property tax increases, would help the Scaleras with the property tax burden.

"The building blocks of real long-term property tax reform are finally in place," Christie said. "So for taxpayers like Lou and Maria here in Paramus and others across the state, they can sure that now we're finally controlling this problem."

The savings came about due to increases in the amounts that municipal employees are required to contribute to their pensions. The Borough will save $812,700 in contributious it would have had to make to the Police and Firemen's Retirement Systems and $69,959 in payments to the Public Employee Retirement System. The Board of Education would have also paid an additional $50,705 to PERS before the cuts.

The total savings for the Borough and the school district will be $933,364.

The cuts don't absolve the Borough of all the pension payments it owes, however, and a nearly $6 million pension payment comes due in 2012, nearly $2 million of which was deferred from past years.

"We do have that deferment that's coming through and we're going to have to make that pension payment," said Councilman Alan Brundage, the chairman of the municipal budget committee.

Paramus is "one of the better examples" of the benefits of Christie's policies, Brundage said. He cited the budget the Council passed this year, which provided for no tax increase.

Bergen County Freeholder Chairman John Driscoll said pension cuts would save the county government nearly $4 million.

"That's tangible savings and real reform," said Driscoll, who introduced Christie.

Christie said local governments should use the savings for property tax relief and to "follow the example that [County Executive] Kathy Donovan and John Driscoll did here in the county. To act responsibly to not increase spending."

Christie took the opportunity to campaign on behalf of Driscoll, who is running against Sen. Robert Gordon for his District 38 seat. The governor criticized Gordon for voting against the reforms he was in Paramus to tout.

"No one forced Bob Gordon to do that," Christie said. "He decided he wanted to continue to be in the pocket of the teachers union and the special interests."

Gordon responded to Christie Wednesday night.

"I would rather be viewed as a supporter of the teachers than as Chris Christie's lap dog," he said. "No one has ever told me how to vote and my record proves it."

The governor will be back in Paramus on Tuesday for an actual campaign event, a cocktail reception and fundraiser for Driscoll and Assembly candidates Richard Goldberg and Fernando Alonso at . Guests must pay $250 to rub shoulders with Christie, and $1,000 to take a photo with the governor.