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Board approves $8.41 million budget transfer that funds retroactive sheriff pay; union asks for itemized justification
Summary
The board approved a transfer of $8,412,500 in prior-year appropriations, including $5,000,007.50 for retroactive sheriff officer pay; a union speaker during public comment asked for detailed justification of earlier transfers totaling $3.4 million from the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits to the jail.
Essex County commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of prior-year appropriations totaling $8,412,500 to ensure departments can meet obligations in the current fiscal period.
County Treasurer Hussam Mohammed presented the measure and explained the legal allowance to transfer prior-year appropriations within the first three months of the year. Mohammed and commissioners clarified that approximately $5,000,007.50 of the transfer is earmarked for the sheriff's department to cover retroactive payments owed to sheriff's officers related to labor settlements. “For the sheriff, it will be completed,” Mohammed said, confirming the transfer clears retroactive obligations for that department.
During the public comment period earlier in the meeting, David Weiner, president of CWA Local 1081 (representing non-supervisory Division of Welfare employees), asked the board to provide a detailed accounting and justification for prior transfers he said totaled $3.4 million from the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits to the jail. Weiner told the commissioners that the union had not received the line-item explanations he requested and asked where the money was spent and which specific expense lines (salaries and benefits, other expenses) were affected.
Commissioners and administration staff acknowledged the request and committed to follow up. Treasurer Mohammed and other officials described the transfers generally as adjustments to cover departmental obligations and said the transfer would complete funding for retroactive sheriff payments when combined with reserve balances and previously held funds.
The measure carried on roll call with commissioners voting in favor and two absences recorded. Staff flagged that a six-vote minimum applied for some items and confirmed quorum and proper tallies before proceeding.
Next steps noted in the meeting: county staff will provide follow-up details to the requesters on the specific origin and justification for the transfers and the board will record those follow-ups in administrative correspondence.
