Posted on 10/15/2010 7:24:42 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
TAMPA - Tampa's pension costs are rising at an alarming rate, city officials say, even as the city has shed hundreds of jobs and cut spending to meet its payroll obligations.
Four years ago, city taxpayers contributed about $1.5 million to Tampa's police and fire pension fund. Next year, city officials project that figure to surpass $19.5 million.
Overall, the city's contributions to its public safety and general employee pensions have doubled in the past two years, from $20 million to a projected $40.6 million next year.
Tampa isn't the only Florida city grappling with rising pension costs.
John Thomas, director of policy and political affairs for the Florida League of Cities, said he has heard from a number of municipalities that are trying to reduce pension costs.
"They see that train coming down the track," he said. "And they're trying to slow it down."
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.tbo.com ...
God bless the policemen and firemen...BUT, they are unreasonable when it comes to union demands.
In our city...everyone...from the mayor on down took a pay cut except the fire and police unions. On top of that, they not only escaped the cut, they are holding out for increases in pay. Their pension demands are outrageous. Many city workers don’t have a pension plan, just a normal 401K type plan, it’s the fire and police unions that are inflating the city budgets, IMO.
Ping to the Florida ping list!
It's always the same: "The (functional) problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."
I feel bad for people who were promised things that they aren’t going to get, but hey, that pretty much includes us all, doesn’t it?
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