Pension changers’ new term: ‘crowd-out’

by rondelord | May 4, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

The next buzzword in California’s episodic public pension debate: “crowd-out.” As in, “California Crowd-Out: How Rising Retirement Benefit Costs Threaten Municipal Services.” It’s the title of a new report issued by the conservative Manhattan Institute. Leaders of the...

Up to 12 weeks paid parenting leave for King County employees

by rondelord | May 4, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Health Insurance, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

Going Seattle one better, the Metropolitan King County Council on Monday adopted a new county policy providing county employees 12 weeks’ paid parenting leave for a birth, adoption or new foster care placement in the family. Hague King County Council member Hague: “A...

Wayne County making big changes to health care, pension benefits to curb debt

by rondelord | May 4, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

DETROIT – Wayne County Executive Warren Evans says he has “strong medicine” to help fix the county’s failing finances. “If we go on business as usual, the money’s going to run out in 2016,” Evans said Monday during a press conference. “We...

Municipal pension woes have people talking in Harrisburg

by rondelord | Apr 26, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn)

HARRISBURG —They may not yet be at the forefront of policy debates at the Capitol, but Pennsylvania’s municipal pension troubles are stirring more discussion than usual. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale drew attention to the issue in January by releasing...

Let local governments opt out of collecting bargaining

by rondelord | Apr 26, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

While it seems most of the legislation coursing through the halls of the Legislature in Carson City seeks to tap deeper into taxpayers’ wallets, one might actually reduce the cost of local government by allowing local counties, cities and school boards to end...

Overtime problem persists in Topeka; pension spiking costs all taxpayers

by rondelord | Apr 26, 2015 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions

An Open Records request to the City of Topeka shows that overtime problems persisted in 2014, with an 11 percent increase to $2.3 million. The highest payout of $70,701 went to Foreperson James Page; the second highest payout of $49,150 went to Foreperson Peter...