Sayreville Voters To Decide Increase In Volunteer Responder Retirement Benefit
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SAYREVILLE, NJ — Sayreville voters are expected to decide on Nov. 3 whether to increase the borough’s retirement contributions for eligible volunteer emergency responders.
The proposal involves Sayreville’s Length of Service Awards Program, commonly known as LOSAP. The program provides annual contributions to retirement accounts for volunteers who meet service requirements established through a point system.
However, several important financial details—including the current contribution, proposed increase, total annual cost and potential effect on taxpayers—were not included in information distributed by the Sayreville Fire Department.
Why The Question Is Going Before Voters
Albert Check, safety officer for Morgan Hose & Chemical Co. No. 1 and the Sayreville Fire Department, contacted The Sayreville Insider about the proposal.
“The Sayreville Fire Department is asking the residents of the borough to support an increase to the Fire Department’s LOSAP retirement account on Nov. 3,” Check wrote. “This will be a ballot question.”
The Borough Council began publicly discussing an increase earlier this year. During its April 13 meeting, Council President John Zebrowski asked the business administrator, chief financial officer, fire chiefs and borough attorney to develop a proposed amount.
On May 26, Zebrowski made a motion to hold a referendum on increasing LOSAP. The motion was seconded by Councilman Michael Colaci and approved unanimously by the six council members.
How The Program Works
According to information distributed by the Fire Department, Sayreville voters approved the original LOSAP program in 1999.
The department’s materials describe the benefit as an incentive intended to recruit and retain members of the Sayreville Fire Department, Sayreville Emergency Squad and Morgan First Aid Squad.
Eligible volunteers receive an annual borough contribution to a deferred-income retirement account. To qualify each year, volunteers must satisfy the requirements of the borough’s LOSAP point system.
The materials do not specify how many volunteers currently qualify for the benefit or whether the proposed increase would apply equally to all three emergency-service organizations.
Fire Department Says Benefit Has Not Increased
The Fire Department’s information states that the LOSAP contribution has not increased during the program’s 26-year history, despite increases in the cost of living.
Supporters describe the proposed change as restoring the benefit’s value to approximately where it stood in 2000 rather than creating an entirely new benefit. The materials also state that the increase is intended to help Sayreville retain volunteers.
Those statements represent the Fire Department’s position in support of the referendum.
New Jersey separately calculates annual cost-of-living adjustments to the maximum contributions permitted under LOSAP programs. For municipal programs in 2026, the state calculated a 3.3% increase in the allowable maximum. That adjustment does not establish the amount Sayreville currently contributes or the amount proposed in the referendum.
Key Financial Questions Remain Unanswered
The Fire Department’s materials do not include:
- The current annual contribution for each eligible volunteer
- The amount volunteers would receive if the referendum passes
- The estimated additional annual cost to the borough
- Any projected effect on municipal property taxes
- The date the increase would take effect
- The exact ballot question and explanatory statement
- Whether the existing eligibility requirements would change
When asked for those details, Check said he did not have the information and recommended contacting the borough clerk’s office or business administrator.
“I would recommend reaching out to the clerk’s office or the business administrator for further information that I don’t have,” Check wrote.
The Sayreville Insider attempted to obtain the additional information but was unable to reach the borough clerk or business administrator before publication. This story will be updated if the borough provides the proposed contribution, estimated cost or final ballot language.
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