UCIA Stipends – 2022

Even with a cloud over the Union County Government Complex project, monthly stipends paid by the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) continue.

UCIA Stipend Change

Since last September when the Union County Government Complex project was initiated there have stipends being out. As of January 1, 2022 there was a change in how those stipends are being paid:

County violated state law

It happens that Bergen County had a similar situation and today the Star Ledger reported (or maybe mis-reported) on what the State Supreme County had to say. Excerpts follow.

UCCF: UCIA; Budget; and Covid Money

Open comments by Bruce Paterson at the 3/24/22 Commissioner meeting elicited this response:

After a sidebar:

What Bruce Paterson had to say:

2022 UC Budget (2): UCIA Aid

The 2022 Union County Executive Budget is out and the first curious entry is:

Has the county left off propping up the Union County Improvement Authority in light of the latest fiasco?

2022 Union County Executive Budget (1) Pop Outs

The 2022 Union County Executive Budget is out and this blog kicks off a series that will look at the numbers in detail. Here are the pertinent pages and we start with items that pop out at you to the point where you assume it is some kind of mistake.

 

Decision in UC Government Complex Project

For those looking for that 21-page judicial ruling mention in the story, here it is.

Notable excerpts below:

Breaking News: Court halts UC Government Complex Project

Per nj.com:

Union County’s long-planned $123.8 million government complex that opponents claimed had illegally skirted state public bidding laws was halted by a state appeals court Tuesday, which rejected arguments that any delay in the construction project would only incur more costs to taxpayers.

In a 21-page ruling, the judges said the plaintiffs in the case “clearly and convincingly demonstrated imminent irreparable harm — not personal in nature, but rather as representative of all taxpayers in Union County.”

Looking at Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) available bill payment resolutions, the Union County Government Complex has so far cost at least $11,681,938.09:

UCIA Departures and Stipends

Since last September when the Union County Government Complex project was initiated there has been $151,041.57 paid out in “salaries” through October, 2021.

Those were actually stipends and here is who got the money:

An Inside Game

That was the headline from today’s lead story in the Star Ledger which asks the question:

Was politics in play when public bidding laws were cast aside for a $123.8M project?

Yes it is about the pay-to-play cesspool that is Union County.

Notable excerpts: