West Deptford Committee Moves to End Elected Officials' Benefits

The era of free benefits for West Deptford’s elected officials is nearly at an end.

The township committee took the first step Thursday toward that goal, voting unanimously in favor of the first reading of an ordinance that would wipe those benefits and require additional contributions from employees, bringing the township in line with recently-passed state legislation.

“This was the time to do it,” said Mayor Anna Docimo, who over her insistence on waiting for the state law to be finalized. “Everybody will pay their fair share.”

While the ordinance spikes benefits for current and future elected officials, it doesn’t take away benefits from those individuals vested under the old version of the township code, given legal concerns. The old version allowed for retirees to continue getting benefits as long as they had a certain number of years of service, depending on their age.

Docimo, who has taken benefits from the township, is among those who are vested under the old language.

While nixing elected officials’ benefits will save the township around $80,000 to $100,000, township administrator Eric Campo said the increased employee contributions will make up a much larger chunk of money.

“We anticipate in the realm of $140,000 in savings in year one,” he said.

Since the state legislation phases in contributions over a four-year period, and employees will contribute varying amounts, depending on salary, Campo said it’s tough to pin down exactly how much more money could be saved over the following three years.

“It’s a significant savings,” he said, with the potential for hundreds of thousands more coming back to the township.

What is less clear is what the township will be able to do with the money saved from those extra employee contributions. Campo said the state will offer some direction as to whether it will go toward offsetting the overall health care budget in some way, or potentially end up as miscellaneous revenue the township can use elsewhere.

Deputy Mayor Len Daws said the ordinance isn’t perfect, but is needed to move on from the months-long debate on the issue.

“There are still opportunities for additional savings,” Daws said. “It’s obviously a step in the right direction.”

The second reading and public hearing of the ordinance will take place Aug. 11, with formal adoption coming after that.