The next Camden County sheriff will be a double-dipper – and possibly a triple-dipper.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Camden voters must choose between double-dippers for sheriff
By Mark Lagerkvist /
The next Camden County sheriff will be a double-dipper – and possibly a triple-dipper. Voters have no other choice in next week’s election.
If Democratic Assemblyman Gilbert “Whip” Wilson wins, he’ll be eligible for three sets of public paychecks totaling roughly $204,000 a year – $144,753 in sheriff’s salary, $50,383 in pension as a retired Camden city cop and a second pension worth at least $8,800 as a newly retired state lawmaker.
If Republican Lewis “Lou” Hannon is elected, his annual take would be nearly $215,000 – the sheriff’s salary plus his $70,985 pension, also as a Camden city police retiree.
Each hopes to succeed the incumbent double-dipper, outgoing Sheriff Charles Billingham. For nine years, Billingham raked in county paychecks plus his $74,479 a year pension as a retired Washington Township policeman.
“It’s a loophole – it shouldn’t exist and taxpayers should be upset,” said Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, told Mitch Blacher of NBC 10 Philadelphia, which partnered with New Jersey Watchdog for this report. “It was clearly never intended that any individual retires and then goes on to collect another publicly-funded, full-time salary.”
It’s also a pattern – not only in Camden, but throughout the Garden State. A New Jersey Watchdog investigation found the sheriffs in 16 of the state’s 21 counties are collecting both salaries plus pensions as retired law enforcement officers.
In addition to Billingham, the current roster of double-dipping sheriffs includes:
- Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino (R), $267,987 – $138,000 salary + $129,987 pension as an Emerson Borough police retiree
- Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik (D), $253,957 – $151,887 salary + $102,070 pension as a Clifton police retiree
- Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy (R), $231,315 – $107,250 salary + $124,065 pension as a Toms River Township police retiree
- Mercer County Sheriff John Kemler (D), $227,330 – $142,499 salary + $84,831 pension as a Mercer County sheriff’s office retiree
- Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano (R), $208,576 – $132,555 salary + $76,021 pension as Bridgewater Township police retiree
- Warren County Sheriff David Gallant (R), $208,432 – $125,945 salary + $82,487 pension as a State Police retiree
- Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford (R), $200,838 – $139,203 salary + $61,545 pension as a Morris Township police retiree
- Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred Scott (D), $200,796 – $139,455 salary + $61,341 pension as a retiree of the Middlesex County sheriff’s office
- Hunterdon County Sheriff Frederick Brown (R), $197,796 – $115,868 salary + $81,928 pension as a retiree of Raritan Township police
- Salem County Sheriff Charles Miller, $195,452 (R) – $119,386 salary + $76,066 pension as a retiree of the Salem County prosecutor’s office
- Gloucester County Sheriff Carmel Morina (D), $191,996 – $128,547 salary + $63,449 pension as a Greenwich Township police retiree
- Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada (R), $170,124 – $121,212 salary + $46,973 pension as Mount Olive Township police retiree
- Cumberland County Sheriff Robert Austino (D), $166,938 – $107,250 salary + $59,688 pension as a Vineland police retiree
- Cape May County Sheriff Gary Schaffer (R), $161,654 – $107,500 salary + $54,154 pension as an Ocean City police retiree.
Statewide, New Jersey sheriffs employ 37 undersheriffs who are also double-dippers who returned to public payrolls after retiring as local, county or state law enforcement officials. In total, the 53 officers collect nearly $10 million a year from public coffers – $5.7 million in salaries plus $4.1 million in retirement pay – according to payroll and pension records.
RELATED: Three-fourths of NJ sheriffs double-dip
The Camden County candidates for sheriff see nothing wrong with it.
“I have a pension through being a Camden city police officer, and if I’m fortunate enough to get elected, I’ll collect that salary,” said Hannon, who retired at age 47 in 2009.
“Everything I’m getting from my pension I’ve earned putting my life on the line for the citizens of Camden,” said Wilson, who retired 20 years ago at age 48.
In an interview with NBC 10 Philadelphia, Wilson refused to acknowledge that he’s eligible for a second pension when he leaves the Assembly at the end of the year, despite special retirement rules for legislators.
There is no question Wilson and Hannon are entitled to pensions. The issue is whether they should be able to collect that retirement pay while still on the public payroll in related jobs.
Beck’s bill, S-883, would suspend the state pensions of retirees if they return to government jobs that pay more than $15,000 a year. The retirement benefits would resume when they finally leave public service.
“When you’re collecting these retirement dollars too early, when you’re still able to work, you’re affecting the viability of the whole pension fund,” said Beck.
RELATED: Taxpayers beware! NJ debt nears $200 billion for benefits
In fact, the state is facing a staggering debt of $194.5 billion for the pension and health benefits of public workers, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis.
New Jersey’s public pensions are underfunded by $113.1 billion, plus state and local governments are also on the hook for $81.4 billion in unfunded health benefits for retired and active workers.
Meanwhile, the Nov. 3 election will do little, if anything, to change the status quo in the counties that will be choosing sheriffs.
In Gloucester County, challenger Joseph J. Micucci Jr. would join the ranks of double-dippers if he should defeat Morina. Micuccui gets $64,614 a year in pension as a Washington Township police retiree.
In Salem County, Miller is unopposed.
The Essex County race is the only one with a candidate who would not be a double-dipper if elected. Republican nominee Antonio Pires does not receive a state pension. However, he is a longshot to defeat Fontoura, who is seeking his ninth term as sheriff in a Democratic stronghold.
Fontoura is a poster child for double-dipping. He draws $207,289 a year from public coffers – $144,896 in salary plus $62,393 from pension as a retiree of his own office.
On a Friday in 1990, Fontoura retired as county undersheriff at age 47. The following Monday, he returned to work at Essex County with the same salary and duties, but a different title – sheriff’s officer chief. One year later, he took charge as sheriff, a post he’s held ever since.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Fontoura’s faux retirement. So far, he has collected $1.35 million in retirement cash without ever giving up his full-time county paycheck.
Not even Fontoura tries to defend double-dipping.
“Obviously, the loophole shouldn’t exist,” Fontoura told the Star-Ledger’s editorial board. “And I support efforts to eliminate it.”
http://watchdog.org/243506/camden-double-dippers-sheriff/?roi=echo3-29966396639-31254562-6642ac4c10f351720dcc5d7742731219