Township Reaches Agreements with Two Unions

The township has entered into new four-year contracts with two unions representing 115 township employees, said Mayor Christopher Vergano.

The blue-collar workers will receive no salary increase this year. They will receive a 1 percent increase in 2012 and 2013 and a 1 and one-half percent increase in 2014. The employees, some of whom work for the department of public works, are represented by two different labor unions.

Governor Chris Christie signed legislation this year limiting the amount public budgets can increase annually by 2 percent. The governor and state lawmakers agreed earlier this year to limit property tax increases to no more than 2 percent unless voters approve a higher amount.

Christie also signed into law the Bipartisan Agreement on Interest Arbitration Reform bill Dec. 21 at the Elks Lodge on Hinchman Avenue.

The Arbitration Reform bill and legislation are several measures in what Christie has referred to as a "toolkit" to give local officials the ability to control their budgets and thereby reduce the pressure to raise property taxes.