The voters spoke in November. What did they say? Cut the spending and cut taxes. And just like our City Manager who says it is imperative that we make changes to Union benefits and how we do business, Governor Rick Scott intends to do the very same thing with State employees' benefits."Scott believes Florida's free retirement program is 'unfair to taxpayers' working in the private sector. Florida is the last State not to require employees to contribute to their own pension, while some States offer free retirement to only a limited class of workers."
As in Lake Worth, the majority of cities across the State are strained because of Union pension costs. Many are spending more on retirement benefits than on payroll such as Pensacola, Pembroke Pines, Jacksonville and St. Petersburg.
Lake Worth's Pension contribution in 2010:
General Employees: 29.4%
Police: 20.92%
Firefighters: 152.13%
As our City Manager Susan Stanton says, "the current pension benefits promised by the City are unsustainable given the City's current and projected FY 2011 revenue resources." Defined benefit plans must end and employees must contribute to their expensive health plan.
At the State level "Reform is coming," said Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate, chairman of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. On a local level, we need to support our City Manager's goal to implement a Defined Contribution Plan, a plan supported by Bill Thrasher of the Finance Advisory Board, and reduce Union benefits.
The Union's response?--a contract is a contract.
7 comments:
The Lake Worth City Commission appoints only people people unfamiliar with with the City management history, usually immoral sneaks, with devious agendas.One such sneak read that Cities which have placed red light Camera($300,000.- to the manufacturer with 10% sales Commission to the salesman Lake Worth so called Finance Committee)),found out that they are losing money,with the costs associated, many non funtioning, breakdowns administrating ,verifying accuracy of registration, transfering figures to the Sheriff's Office and
guarding them , an enormous payroll for the Red light camera manufacturer's benefits, paid for by us Citizens if idiots on the Commission vote for it.
Dee McNamara, Citizens' interests' Advocate, not like the alcoholic ,bipolar crackpot!
The city commission appoints mindless puppets to the volunteer baords. Just look at planning and zoning.
It is an honest Board with no personal agenda unlike some of the past.
I agree with that. Maybe now that we have a good P&Z we will have no more sweetheart deals under the table and no more Lucernes.
The Lake Worth Planning and Zoning Board is finally occupied by a dignefied, dedicated: Attorney, the known gentleman Laurence McNamara,proven expert on Lake Worth PLanning and Zonig Laws,(ask Rodney,preserved Old Bridge Park for all Lake Worth Citizens,now most popular Green Market in the County,(sued by the City for this),
stopped illegal Beach Leases to flim flam scam artists promoted by the alcoholic bipolar crackpot,and sleazy buddies,etc.etc. )the Lake Worth Charter and Code Enforcement Laws, having worked with them since 1991,restoring Lake Worth historic homes. An Urban planning diplomat, expert Ms.Fitzhugh, not an alcoholic,with ditto husband, bi-polar crackpot. A green building and landscape architect, expert!
Only a deranged mind would refer to this as a mindless puppet board, probably seen through their alcolic fumes!
Dee McNamara, Lake Worth Citizens interests Advocate with 10 year knowledge of Lake Worth bad (Maxwell)Government.
It is tragic for the unsuspecting Lake Worth Citizens, to be kept in the dark about the 10 year solution offered, for prevention of Budget deficits, by Laurence McNamara and myself.
Incorporating the CRA(OUR T.I.F.money wasters)would increase
our General fund, then by $3,000,000,- to $4,000,000,-, now by at Least $1.500.000.- to pay for pensions and benefits and services.Stobburn know nothing Commission members, blocked this,for fear of having to seriously look at figures!
The only multi millions revenue producing recreation of our 1921 Casino,
could have been finished for 6 years and generated $50,000,000,- to our budget in 5 years past! The element like Scott maxwell,knows nothing about managing Palm Beach Island very lucrative businesses, Negative,no-vision Maxwell, never produced one Job,
or Project to generate revenue to maintain the City,they have blocked any progress by the known intelligent business way.He thinks Palm Beach Island Land is the same as Burger King lantana land.
Somebody please educate him on this vital point, and his ignorant negative cronies, who are not able to come up with one positive solution .Our service charges(Palm Beach Post reports) have risen by 144%!!!The so-called Finance Board sees that as a possibility.Sunset that useless self promoting(some)
troupe!
There is no Employee available to clean up their mess, based on ignorance of our financial, grossly mismanaged City history
Susan Stanton must work with the mess the likes of primitive,arrogant Scott Maxwell and their ditto Commissions.The gross fiscal mismanagement, is now showing results, exacerbated by the Crash in Property values caused by the crooked dishonest element, and former,arrogant, neglectful Lake Worth City Commissions!Why doesn't Scott and the alcohics, come up with revenue
to pay for pensions and benefits, deserved by the emloyees, who know about the property value crash, and reduction of our revenue as a consequence!
Dee McNamara,Citizens interest Advocate with knowledge of Lake Worth, therefore not allowed on Boards!!!!!
The Current P & Z board is full of talent and a vareity of view points where each member respects the view points of others, can have reasonable conversation about the projects brought before them and more importantly move them forward with strong consideration for the City as a whole.
For any volunteer board in the city they have to be given a chance to accomplish the tasks that are given to them.
All though the appointment process was once in question, the recent turn overs resulted in a much more inspiring board with no agenda.
Thank God for our current P&Z board.
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