Comments on: The 411 on 911 http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=330 Mindfulness in the face of challenge. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:24:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-405 Mark Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:16:10 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-405 Mike Rich, where are you? Mike worked in negotiating these contracts while working for the City of Oakland. When he ran for council he spoke critically ( at least to me) of the economic strain posed by the retirement packages for police and fire, while making the same qualifying comments about their importance. That was real foresight and if I were Mike, I'd toot my own horn on that one. Maybe it was Dennis Green who had a letter criticizing the per capita ratio of police on the street in Alameda. That is always a hard argument to make in this town where to m,e part of our community identity is paranoia of crime from Oakland. Dennis likes those unpopular arguments, and it was before Iko's murder. But I thought he actually furnished numbers for once to support his point. It's probably a waste of time to pursue that aspect, at least until and if we start to approach a Vallejo type crisis. Mike Rich, where are you?

Mike worked in negotiating these contracts while working for the City of Oakland. When he ran for council he spoke critically ( at least to me) of the economic strain posed by the retirement packages for police and fire, while making the same qualifying comments about their importance. That was real foresight and if I were Mike, I’d toot my own horn on that one.

Maybe it was Dennis Green who had a letter criticizing the per capita ratio of police on the street in Alameda. That is always a hard argument to make in this town where to m,e part of our community identity is paranoia of crime from Oakland. Dennis likes those unpopular arguments, and it was before Iko’s murder. But I thought he actually furnished numbers for once to support his point. It’s probably a waste of time to pursue that aspect, at least until and if we start to approach a Vallejo type crisis.

]]> By: dave http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-404 dave Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:37:36 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-404 Accounting for it one thing, actually funding it is quite another... Accounting for it one thing, actually funding it is quite another…

]]> By: Mike McMahon http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-403 Mike McMahon Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:58:42 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-403 For those looking for background materials on public sector pensions (I focused on schools) you can start here: http://mikemcmahon.info/pension04.htm There have been failed attempts by the Governor in 2005 at pension reform and former Assembly Member Richman is looking to create another ballot proposition. http://mikemcmahon.info/pension04.htm#m For those looking for background materials on public sector pensions (I focused on schools) you can start here:

http://mikemcmahon.info/pension04.htm

There have been failed attempts by the Governor in 2005 at pension reform and former Assembly Member Richman is looking to create another ballot proposition.

http://mikemcmahon.info/pension04.htm#m

]]> By: Eve http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-402 Eve Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:41:14 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-402 My understanding is that the new standards set by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GASB_45" rel="nofollow">GASB 45</a> require all government entities to account NOW for the post employment benefits of their employees. Is compliance with that <a href="http://www.cacities.org/index.jsp?zone=wcm&previewStory=25885" rel="nofollow">new accounting standard</a> playing a part in this current contract negotiation? My understanding is that the new standards set by GASB 45 require all government entities to account NOW for the post employment benefits of their employees. Is compliance with that new accounting standard playing a part in this current contract negotiation?

]]> By: dave http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-401 dave Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:04:06 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-401 The city can sweeten the deal by offering generous matching terms. That may cost a bit more now but it saves a TON later. The unions would be wise to accept such a deal because it would ensure the long term viability of the city. A bankrupt city's plan probably ends up in the PBGC where beneficiaries will get 30-40 cents on the dollar. (I say probably because I don't know the details of the city's pension) The city can sweeten the deal by offering generous matching terms. That may cost a bit more now but it saves a TON later. The unions would be wise to accept such a deal because it would ensure the long term viability of the city. A bankrupt city’s plan probably ends up in the PBGC where beneficiaries will get 30-40 cents on the dollar.

(I say probably because I don’t know the details of the city’s pension)

]]> By: Lauren Do http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-400 Lauren Do Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:49:02 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-400 I think dave's idea has merit, but insitutions like police and fire built on a pension system aren't likely to give that up for a 401K type retirement plan. Have there been any municpalities that have switched from a pension system to something else? I hope I don't need to qualify this by saying that I am supportive of fire and police services, and so on and so forth I think dave’s idea has merit, but insitutions like police and fire built on a pension system aren’t likely to give that up for a 401K type retirement plan.

Have there been any municpalities that have switched from a pension system to something else?

I hope I don’t need to qualify this by saying that I am supportive of fire and police services, and so on and so forth

]]> By: dave http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-399 dave Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:30:46 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/2008/03/07/330/#comment-399 Here's a start: Convert all city employees from defined benefit to combined contribution retirement plans. Small, if any, benefit in immediate short run but tremendous benefit in long term. Here’s a start:

Convert all city employees from defined benefit to combined contribution retirement plans. Small, if any, benefit in immediate short run but tremendous benefit in long term.

]]>