Orange County Taxpayers Association calls for structural reform of future benefits for deputy sheriffs
The Orange County Taxpayers Association has sent the following letter to the Board of Supervisors saying that “structural reform of future benefits is essential” in bargaining with the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs:
OCTAXOrange County Taxpayers Association �
30205 Hillside Terrace
San Juan Capistrano CA 92675-1542January 10, 2010
The Honorable Pat Bates, Chair, Orange County Board of Supervisors
333 West Santa Ana Boulevard
Santa Ana CA 92701Dear Chairwoman Bates,
The Orange County Taxpayers Association (OCTax) understands that your Honorable Board of Supervisors is bargaining with the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS).
The time is propitious. When public employee advocates such as former Speaker Willie Brown, the Public Employees’ Retirement Journal and CalPERS’ chief actuary all acknowledge that existing retirement and health benefits are “unsustainable,” even the most fervent unionists probably would agree (if only behind the closed doors of the bargaining room).
OCTax can’t hear the discussion in your meetings with AOCDS. We hope it isn’t quibbling over “a little more of this, a little less of that.” Structural reform of future benefits is essential.
Since – oh, about 1889 – previous Boards of Supervisors lacked the gumption to tackle this issue.
Your Board has a good record so far. In 2006, you reduced the costs of two other unions’ retiree health care by about $900 million. In 2008, voters approved your Measure J, which gives the public the power to approve future pension increases. (OCTax co-signed the ballot argument with then-Chairman Moorlach.) In 2009, you gave employees a choice between the traditional defined-benefit pension and a new defined-contribution plan; it is unclear how much money this will save, but simply introducing the defined-contribution concept was a dramatic step forward.
Please continue this course of structural reform. Act decisively and judiciously now. Otherwise, a future Board will be forced to act decisively, but will be unable to act judiciously because the County budget will have been eviscerated. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero. At a bare minimum, you and AOCDS must negotiate a new tier of less lavish benefits for future employees, and existing employees should contribute substantially toward their existing benefits.
OCTax harbors no malice toward AOCDS or other public employees. On the contrary, we say often and publicly that they are equal to employees in the private sector and deserve equal pay and benefits. We want them on the job. But if the County goes broke, their jobs will disappear.
Sincerely,
Reed L. Royalty, President
cc: Vice Chair Nguyen; Supervisors Moorlach, Campbell, and Norby
You can download the letter (MS Word) here.
Common sense, you cannot pay current employees less than the ‘market rate’. If you cheap out on police you get corrupt or incompetent police. Think Mexico. I keep hearing you don’t want a 60 year old cop responding to an emergency. You don’t want an underpaid young cop either. While stiffing new employees is tempting, don’t do it. If retiree benefits are too much then those must be cut. Otherwise the crisis will just repeat itself later.
As an example Prichard Alabama declared bankruptcy in 1999. The issue of pensions was unresolved. They are now in bankruptcy again and have ceased paying all pensions.