A New Jersey task force says a two percent cap on arbitration awards for police and firefighters has helped reduce the rate of property tax increases.
Republican Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon is one of Governor Christie's appointees on the task force studying the impact of the cap that's set to expire at year's end.
He says it's saved taxpayers more than half a billion dollars since 2011 by containing police and firefighter labor costs.
"Every single municipal official and public worker looks to these contracts to inform all labor negotiations. So, it's probably double or triple that number in absolute savings from this policy."
O’Scanlon says there's no evidence the cap is hurting the ability to recruit qualified candidates for police and fire positions.
"The number of people applying for these jobs is up. The quality of the people applying for these jobs is up. Crime rates are down. There is no collateral negative impact from this policy."
The Policemen's Benevolent Association says the information is one-sided because it was released without support of the task force members appointed by the Democrat-controlled legislature.
Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto says he wants to see a final report before deciding whether to schedule a vote to make the cap permanent.