Simple Pension Proposal for Coral Gables Commission

September 19, 2010 Leave a comment

All Coral Gables Commissioners and the Mayor should forego a pension.  This relieves them of having a conflict of interest when they raise or lower the pensions of city employees.

Also, Coral Gables Commissioners should forego a salary, accept a small additional amount to cover their personal city-related expenses.  This is justified since they have a part-time job, in the public interest, and they have private sources of income.

In other words, the City of Coral Gables Commissioners and Mayor should be treated like the Board of a nonprofit organization with a fiduciary responsibility, but acting as volunteers in the interest of the community.

In 2010 all candidates for Commissioner or Mayor should offer not to accept a salary or pension from the city.

These sacrifices would make our Commission and Mayor exceptional and outstanding community leaders in this time of great personal and business austerity.

Filed under Coral Gables, Government, Pensions

Not Enough Pension Cuts, Yet

September 18, 2010 Leave a comment

While a good start with the benefits of general employees, the big costs are in police and firefighter salaries and benefits.  If these are “untouchable” then little will be gained in reducing pension liabilities.

Police and firefighters, whose pensions are determined by separate contracts with the city, will not be affected by these cuts.

via Coral Gables OK’s pension cuts for employees and managers – Coral Gables – MiamiHerald.com.

Filed under Coral Gables, Pensions

Try This for Drastic Government Reform

September 11, 2010 Leave a comment

This epitomizes the extremes reforms that cities might have to go to fix a long festering problem–basically, out source the government!

One Orange County city has already taken bold steps to correct its $10 million deficit. It may be a model for other cities and states across the country. Internally, it has decided it will not replace any city worker that dies, retires, moves or quits. The city will simply out source the employment to an outside service company and eliminate healthcare requirements and unsustainable pensions. Building inspectors will be out sourced as will city plan checkers, librarians and meter maids. Only essential services like top executives and cops will remain on the city payroll. The city staff will eventually decrease from 220 to approximately 35 personnel. This is the essence of deconstruction.

via A Tsunami Approaches: The Beginning of the Great Deconstruction | Newgeography.com.

Filed under Finance, Pensions

“The Triumph of Organized Labor and Government Experts”

September 11, 2010 Leave a comment

I guess we in Coral Gables understand this statement.  Read this for further information about the eventual collapse of state and local government pension plans and who will end up paying.

General Motors and Chrysler lost their economic viability because they could not support workers’ pensions. Now the same thing is happening to state and local government.

via The Triumph of Organized Labor and Government Experts, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty.

Filed under Pensions

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