New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller

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Chart showing accumulated liability and reserves for six New Jersey shore towns that participate in a lifeguard pension program.

My office's report reveals the reality of NJ's lifeguard pension program: it's unfairly burdening certain NJ shore towns.

Six towns face a combined $37M in pension liabilities. Atlantic City alone faces a $21M shortfall.

The State needs to address this 1928 law.
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Chart showing more than 50 percent of retired lifeguards have a second state pension

My office's recent report uncovered double-dipping in NJ's lifeguard pension program.

Over half of retired lifeguards are drawing a second state pension.

Double-dipping strains NJ's pension systems and, ultimately, taxpayers.

Read the report: buff.ly/6LPI3uJ

Nearly 2 million State residents rely on New Jersey Medicaid. Logo of the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller

In 1965, Medicaid began covering vulnerable populations.

Today, it provides healthcare to nearly 2m NJ residents.

With cuts pending, continuing to safeguard its integrity is vital.

My office will continue investigating fraud and abuse—and recovering millions each year.

Chart showing a retired lifeguard would receive about 150000 more in lifetime payments than a retired state employee

My office’s report on NJ's mandated lifeguard pension program reveals a striking disparity: a retired lifeguard would receive about $150,000 more in lifetime payments than a retired state employee.
The 1928 law requiring lifeguard pensions for certain NJ towns needs an overhaul.
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Map of New Jersey with Long Branch and Asbury Park in Monmouth County; Brigantine, Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport in Atlantic County; and Ocean City, Sea Isle City, North Wildwood, Wildwood, and, Cape May in Cape May County.

My office released a report on NJ lifeguard pensions revealing:
🔹 6 towns face $37M liability: Atlantic City, Brigantine, Longport, Margate, Sea Isle City, and Ventnor
🔹6 more likely owe millions
It's time to do away with this unfair, arbitrary pension mandate.
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At OSC, we're proud to serve the 🌽Garden State 🍅, keeping New Jersey government transparent 🔍, accountable 📊, and efficient 💼.

🎉Happy National New Jersey Day! 🌟

Photo: lifeguard stand on a New Jersey beach

🆕 BREAKING: A new report from OSC reveals a $34 million shortfall in lifeguard pension plans across 6 NJ municipalities.

An outdated law from 1928 is burdening municipalities with lifelong pensions for seasonal jobs.

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Know something? Report fraud here
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Last week, the U.S. Attorney's Office District of New Jersey announced prison sentences for a pharmacy owner and administrator for their roles in a kickback scheme and Medicaid fraud. We’re proud to support accountability.
Read more: buff.ly/91zYdqP

Image: Screenshot of headline from U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey. Text: Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison and Administrator Sentenced to 72 Months for their Respective Roles in a Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

Medicaid fraud hurts patients and drains public funds.
OSC's Medicaid Fraud Division provides referrals and valuable information to state and federal agencies to help them build successful cases like this one.

New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller Advancing transparency and accountability as New Jersey's watchdog

Do you have any tips?

Do you work with a municipality that is wasting this money?

We want to hear from you.

We will keep your identity confidential.
www.nj.gov/comptroller/...
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I'm committed to using the powers I have to protect these funds. Lives depend on it.

Our report on Irvington found they wasted $632,000 on parties. That money should have gone to saving lives.
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Who’s Policing Opioid Settlement Spending? A Crowdsourced Database Might Help - KFF Health News Billions in opioid settlement money was meant to be spent on treating and preventing addiction — but what happens if it’s misspent? Some advocates say attorneys general need to pay closer attention. I...

@aneripattani.bsky.social with @kffhealthnews.org highlights the lack of oversight of opioid funds.

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

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Opioid recovery funds are intended to reduce fatalities and serve as lifelines for communities overwhelmed by the opioid epidemic. Irvington misspent and wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars that should have been used to help people recover from addiction.

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The Appellate Court later lifted the order, and in an order released today, the N.J. Supreme Court rejected Irvington's appeal—clearing the way for OSC to release the report.
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Since then, Irvington has taken extraordinary legal actions to block OSC from releasing the report, including requesting—and being granted—a court order temporarily restraining OSC, the Governor and legislative leaders from distributing the report. 6/

Nearly a year later, when OSC sent a draft of the report for review and comment, Irvington responded first by suing for defamation. 5/

OSC found Irvington's efforts to raise awareness were minimal, and largely an afterthought. For example, while Irvington booked musical performers months in advance, the Township only reached out to ask for Narcan donations just five days before the concert.
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Another $200,000 was spent on promoting and advertising the concerts.
Read the full list of expenditures.
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Image: Irvington Township’s 2023 and 2024 Opioid Awareness Day Event Expenses

Irvington improperly steered $368,500 of the funds to businesses owned or controlled by a Township employee and his family, who were responsible for securing musical performers and refused to disclose how the money was spent. 2/

Photo: Billboard promoting Irvington Township's Opioid Awareness Event

🚨 BREAKING: Without consulting health experts, public safety officials, or residents, Irvington leaders blew through $632,000 in #opioid settlement funds by holding two “awareness” concerts, an OSC investigation finds.
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Happy Independence Day [logo of the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller]

Wishing all New Jerseyans a great Fourth of July!

As the state’s Medicaid watchdog, OSC is committed to ensuring Medicaid funds are spent responsibly, returning millions to NJ taxpayers each month.

Learn about the three NJ nursing homes OSC directed to repay $2.1 million to Medicaid for serious staffing violations: buff.ly/5JP8Mrr

DYK: New Jersey nursing homes are required by law to meet staff-to-resident ratios? That’s because adequate staffing has a direct impact on quality of care for our most vulnerable residents.

More information here: buff.ly/YyHGHGL

3️⃣ Emergency (public exigency) contracts over $3 million must be submitted for review within 30 business days of award

2️⃣ Proposed public procurements exceeding $15.2 million require submission to OSC for review at the earliest stage of the planning process, but not less than 30 days before the proposed advertisement or issuance.

1️⃣Executed government contracts valued between $3 million and $15.2 million must be reported within 20 business days of award.

Note: An Update on Thresholds for Public Contracts Reviewed by OSC Logo of the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller

📢 Attention New Jersey Public Purchasing Professionals 📋
Effective July 1, 2025, as required by law, OSC is changing our contract review thresholds.