360 workers were sent home without pay amid NJ township’s budget crisis

💲Edison approved emergency funding that ends furloughs for 360 township workers
💲Employees return to work Friday with back pay for the three days they missed
💲The Township Council still must approve a full budget

EDISON — Hundreds of Edison township employees will return to work Friday after elected officials approved emergency funding to end a three-day furlough triggered by a budget impasse that left one of New Jersey's largest municipalities without enough money to meet payroll.

The Township Council unanimously approved the temporary spending measure during an emergency meeting Thursday, restoring pay for 360 furloughed workers and funding municipal operations for about a month. But the vote does not resolve the political stalemate that prevented Edison from adopting a full municipal budget before a state deadline, leaving another budget showdown ahead.

"I don't know your workings, but it's got to get figured out. And I'm pleading that this gets passed so we can all get back to work and make sure this town doesn't fall to s**t," one worker said during the public comment portion of the meeting.

"To not agree on a budget and sit on your hands and stay home and not try to get this thing finalized is deplorable," another member of the public said. "Do your job, get the budget passed, get this appropriation passed so that everyone benefits."

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Edison budget debate isn't over yet

The Edison Township Council unanimously approved the appropriation that will end a furlough for 360 workers and fund the town for the next month. All workers will report to work on Friday and will receive back pay for three days of work missed.

"Glad to get Edison working again. This executive order will restore the FULL back pay for all employees," Joshi said.

The funding package includes a provision that reduces the pay for council members until a budget is approved. The council will vote on a new budget at its next meeting on Aug. 3. Even if a budget is not agreed upon, the appropriation will fund payroll through the month of August.

Member Richard Brescher accused Joshi of creating "drama" and said the council was unclear about how long the payroll was funded.

"It turns out council thought we were fully funded till the end of the month the Business Administrator said they went to the last pay cycle (our system is a 2 week cycle). Our system allows for a one day pay or one week pay," Brescher said. "The administration decided to furlough employees before they should have. No furlough were needed. Only in Edison would a mayor use employees and residents as pawns to create drama to force a unnecessary tax increase."

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