NJBIA Supports Shared Services Bill 

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association is supporting bill S-1 today, which promotes shared services and potential cost savings for local and county governments.

The legislation, which is being voted on today in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, represents a legislative effort to exercise much-needed fiscal discipline for the state amid more than $215 billion in total debt.

“These are very challenging fiscal times for New Jersey and our financial problems are deeply systemic,” said NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Christopher Emigholz.

“It’s imperative that our state recognize cost-savings wherever it can and pass that down to our property taxpayers. This bill takes a positive step in that direction.”

S-1, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) and Sen. Vin Gopal (D-11), encourages shared service agreements and joint contracts through modification of the “Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act.” Some modifications also include civil service relief for shared service agreements.

The bill is part of the “Path to Progress” report, issued by the New Jersey Fiscal Policy Working Group in 2018.

NJBIA continues to strongly advocate for impactful reforms within the report to remedy the state’s high debt load and excessive taxation on overburdened New Jersey residents and businesses.