Filings rise 60 percent as some try to lock in pension, health care.
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TRENTON — More than 20,000 police officers, firefighters, teachers and other public employees put in their retirement papers last year as momentum was building for sweeping health and pension reform in Trenton, state figures show.
That is a 60 percent jump from 2009 retirements and the highest in at least a decade, according to the Division of Pension and Benefits.
Teachers whose contracts were criticized all year long by Gov. Chris Christie headed for the exits at the quickest pace, nearly doubling the number who retired in 2009.
Under nearly all the reform proposals circulating in Trenton, public employees would pay more for pension and health benefits, but would escape the additional costs if they retire before the reforms were enacted.
"There has been a direct assault on the benefits that public employees have earned and fought for over the last 40 years," said Dominick Marino, president of the state chapter of the International Association of Firefighters. "People were attracted to these jobs because of the certainty, now there is no certainty, and people are retiring."
While those who put in retirement papers can opt to stay, the vast majority retire, officials say. Of the 20,327 public employees who put in for retirement, more than half were state and local workers. Retirements among police and firefighter swelled by 45 percent.
Overall, 7,132 teachers retired last year. In the decade before, no more than 4,872 teachers called it quits in any given year, records show.
Steve Wollmer, communications director for the New Jersey Education Association, said there may be many reasons behind the spike, including Christie’s "villainization" of teachers since he has taken office.
"Our teachers have suffered several months of constant criticism and demonization," said Wollmer. "These people have dedicated their lives to these careers and were fed up."
Wollmer said the spike could also be attributed to the stock market crash, which forced some employees to postpone retirements. But he acknowledged the threat of pension and health benefit reform is also driving up the numbers.
"There was a lot of talk about increasing pension contributions and other changes, all designed to scare people, and teachers responded," said Wollmer.
Mark Ruskoski, 60, taught physical education for 26 years in the Vineland School District and hoped to continue. He said the talk in Trenton prompted him to put in his retirement papers last year and collect his $35,085 annual pension.
"The governor was the final straw," said Ruskoski. "I wanted to stay three or four more years, but I saw the direction where the state was heading and wanted to preserve my pension."
Ruskoski said his colleagues, particularly veteran teachers, were upset that their pensions were threatened, even though they made their payments and the state ignored its obligation.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak declined comment.
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said he saw 60 people retire last year, the most in his five years as mayor.
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View full size"Many were scared about losing some of their pensions, so they retired thinking that it can’t be touched," said McCormac.
Pension and health benefit reform will be high on the agenda in Trenton this spring. Christie wants all public employees, state and local, to begin paying 30 percent of their health insurance premiums starting next fiscal year. Currently, public employees are required to pay at least 1.5 percent of their salary toward health benefits.
Christie has warned that if Democratic lawmakers refuse to go along with his proposal, or a similar plan, he would not be able to deliver an additional $190 million in property tax relief to seniors and middle-to-low income residents.
State Sen. Stephen Sweeney, (D-Gloucester), wants to phase in the increases over seven years and apply the rates on a sliding scale based on a employee’s salary.
Under Christie’s plan, a teacher who makes a $66,000 salary would pay about $5,200 a year for health insurance. Under Sweeney’s plan, the same teacher would pay about $3,610.
In general, public employees with 25 years of service can retire and receive medical benefits at no cost, but that would change under both Sweeney’s and Christie’s plan.
Current retirees, including those who retire before any proposal is enacted, would be protected from the changes. However, Christie has suggested he is willing to make some adjustments retroactive, even if it prompts a legal challenge.