Hard Times In Camden County Can Cost Pennsauken Its Police Officers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Tight times in Pennsauken could cost six of the township's 88 police officers their jobs and a half dozen others could be demoted as officials try to keep their spending in line with state law.
It's not like the Fraternity Order of Police don't want to help out. But to reopen their contract would trigger a part of the state's benefit reform law, phasing in four years worth of increased payments for health care.
"Our contract runs till the end of 2013. We know that, eventually, we're going to have to accept that part of the health care. Seems like a pretty simple thing, but it's also a pretty significant change in how we pay for our health care now," said union president Matt Henkel.
They're looking at other alternatives, like limits on buyback of unused vacation time to help save Pennsauken over $135,000. The proposed layoff plan has already been accepted by New Jersey's Civil Service Commission. So, without some concession somewhere, the cuts will come on December 1st.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Nedwsradio
