Christie Set to Unveil Reform Measures Monday

Plans to place stricter limits on property tax increases and put a permanent 2.5 percent limit on annual raises for public workers will be part of a 33-bill legislative package that Gov. Chris Christie will announce Monday.

Christie also will discuss several potential reforms, including raising the retirement age to 65 from 62; having public employees pay more toward their pensions and allowing towns to discard some civil service rules.

The governor is scheduled to announce his plans at a noon news conference in his outer office at the Statehouse in Trenton. He touched on many of the proposals during his budget proposal address in March, and has said reforms will give local governments the tools they need to hold down property taxes, which are the highest in the nation.

Union leaders have criticized many of the proposals, doubting that they will save much money. They also fear that allowing towns to opt-out of civil service will open the system to more hiring decisions based on patronage.

Christie's spokesman, Michael Drewniak, has declined to comment on what the governor will address at his news conference.

Among the proposals Christie will likely raise are his efforts to put his plan to cap local spending and tax increases on the November ballot. If lawmakers and voters approve the proposed constitutional amendment, municipalities would have to keep property tax increases at or below 2.5 percent a year.

Christie says the cap is needed to impose discipline on government spending.

He'll also propose a 2.5 percent limit on the annual increases of public employee contracts _ including wages, health benefits, vacation time and other perks _ and limit the amount of unused sick leave they can cash out at $15,000. Another proposed change would be allowing workers to only carry over unused vacation time for one year.

Another proposal would allow towns to opt-out of the civil service system through an ordinance or a petition by 15 percent of the voters.