4 Lancaster firefighters to lose jobs as split council approves budget
Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Lancaster, OH
December 21, 2010
LANCASTER -- Four Lancaster Firefighters will lose their jobs early next year after the city council narrowly passed the 2011 budget at a special meeting Monday night.
Session to focus on jobs in Camden
Cherry Hill Courier Post, Cherry Hill, NJ
December 21, 2010
CAMDEN — City officials and labor unions will hold the third of three scheduled negotiation sessions today in what could be the final attempt to save nearly 260 public safety jobs.
Firefighter layoffs in Schenectady will be avoided, mayor says
WRGB, Schenectady, NY
December 21, 2010 5:31 AM
SCHENECTADY -- Layoffs in the Schenectady Fire Department could be avoided if the firefighters' union agrees to a new contract this week.
Firefighters union delays court fight over pensions
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Pittsburgh's firefighters union backed off its request for an Allegheny County judge to force the city to avoid a state takeover of its municipal retirement accounts.
Broken Benefits: A price to pay
Local municipalities facing surging pension obligations see ?Legislature as the root of the problem – and a potential solution
Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, IL
Created: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 5:30 a.m. CST
Consumers in the city of McHenry are picking up part of the tab to help pay the city’s police pension obligations.
State workers face paying 5 percent into pension fund
McDonnell proposes salary increase to offset financial impact
Fairfaxtimes.com, Reston, VA
Tuesday December 21, 2010
Virginia public employees could take home less cash and contribute to their retirement next year under a plan unveiled Thursday by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell.
2011: The Year Public Pension Plans Get Whacked
CBS MoneyWatch.com (blog)
Dec 21, 2010
The traditional defined-benefit pension that is the dominant retirement plan for public-sector employees officially has a huge target on its back. And 2011 is shaping up as the year politicians begin to take serious aim at cutting promised benefits. What was a mere trickle of states and municipalities starting to address massive unfunded pension liabilities in 2010, which are now estimated to total more than $1 trillion, looks to grow to a torrent in 2011.
Battle lines drawn over city pensions
Houston mayor wants benefits cut, takes fight to Legislature
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Dec. 20, 2010, 6:13AM
Instability in its three pension systems is the greatest threat to Houston's financial solvency, city officials and financial analysts say.
Gov. Christie plans to sign bill capping police, firefighter raises at 2 percent through arbitration
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, Newark, NJ
Published: Monday, December 20, 2010, 5:29 PM Updated: Monday, December 20, 2010, 5:29 PM
TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday will sign legislation instituting a 2 percent cap on salary increases for police and fire fighters if their union can't come to an agreement during contract negotiations.
NJ police want to know how unions are fighting Christie's pension reforms
Examiner.com, Denver, CO
December 19th, 2010 11:28 pm ET
Officials with the state PBA won’t say how they plan to fight Gov. Christie’s efforts to reform New Jersey’s Police and Firefighters Retirement System, which has begun to worry the rank-and-file.
Harvey firefighters pension fund sues suburb
Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL
Dec 17, 2010 09:01PM
Trustees with the Harvey Firefigthers Pension Fund are turning up the heat on officials in the south suburb, filing a lawsuit today alleging the city shortchanged the retirement fund.
State must restore public-employee pension contribution rule
The Journal News | LoHud.com, White Plains, NY
December 20, 2010
Recent news articles have detailed the severe negative impact of increased employer pension costs on upcoming budgets. ("Pension costs stretch Westchester Med Center budget," Dec. 12 article; "Nanuet schools, teachers at impasse over new contract," Dec. 13 article; and other reports of school district and municipal budgets struggling under the burden of growing pension costs.)
Nevada News Bureau, Henderson, NV
4:12 pm December 20th, 2010
CARSON CITY – Nevada policy makers remain divided over the need to make a fundamental change to the public employees’ retirement system following the release last week of a report showing significant costs to move to a defined contribution plan.
EDITORIAL: Reforming pensions
Will lawmakers kick it down the road again?
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Dec. 19, 2010
For years various legislators and governors have talked about finding a way to cut the ballooning cost of state and local public employee pensions.
Editorial: State’s cuts for retirees would hurt more later
The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA
Public employee pensions are under scrutiny across the nation. Liabilities are larger than contributions, owing to the temptation of legislators to postpone regular infusions to help balance budgets. A Pew Charitable Trusts report estimates the overall deficit to be $1 trillion.
Broken Benefits: McHenry County and Illinois' public pension crisis
Too heavy to bear: Underfunded for decades, the state's generous public pensions have become too burdensome for taxpayers
Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, IL
Created: Sunday, December 19, 2010 1:15 a.m. CST Updated: Sunday, December 19, 2010 1:24 a.m. CST
For 31 years, John Kainer pumped money from his paycheck into the United Airlines pension fund.
Jones to announce possible city pension plan next week
Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV
December 20, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston Mayor Danny Jones plans to make an announcement about a possible new pension plan for the city next week.
Proposal May Be Costly in Future
Wheeling News Register, Wheeling, WV
December 19, 2010 - News-Register
Putting off payment of public debts until later is lousy policy. West Virginia legislators should not succumb (again) to the temptation to use that as a means of not facing up to problems now.
Oklahoma Senate to look at unfunded pensions
NewsOK.com, Oklahoma City, OK
Published: December 18, 2010
A special Senate committee was announced Friday that will look into shoring up $16 billion in unfunded liabilities in Oklahoma’s pension funds.
Pension-contribution rate raised
Public workers, taxpayers to pay more to retirement plan
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 18, 2010 12:00 AM
A larger-than-expected reduction in government employment will cause taxpayers and working public employees to pay more into the ailing Arizona State Retirement System, which has more than 100,000 retirees receiving benefits for the first time.
Sweeping pension overhaul in Newport
OCRegister, Santa Ana, CA
Published: Dec. 17, 2010 4:24 p.m
NEWPORT BEACH – In the latest example of government pensions being rolled back, Newport Beach officials Tuesday inked a deal that freezes wages, increases pension costs and enrolls newly hired workers into a significantly less generous retirement program.
Public pensions face decisions
Ct Post, Bridgeport, CT
Published: 04:59 p.m., Friday, December 17, 2010
There's good news and bad news in the recent audit of the state's public employee pension system.
Police-fire pension board still searching for consultant, director
Police-fire pension board seeks director, consulting firm.
News-Leader.com, Springfield, MO
December 17, 2010
Springfield's police-fire pension board's search for a new investment consultant is back to square one.
Police, fire unions respond to mayor's reorganization plan
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, Waterloo, Iowa
Posted: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:47 am
WATERLOO, Iowa --- Unions for the city's police officers and firefighters said they look forward to working with the mayor in a reorganization announced this weekend that creates a director of safety services.
Avon firefighters to receive 3 percent raise
The Morning Journal, Lorain, Ohio
Published: Tuesday, December 21, 2010
AVON — Avon firefighters will receive a 3 percent raise next year as part of a new collective bargaining agreement with the city.
Parts of Knight Township still shielded from fire
City department to supply protection, medical service starting Jan. 1
Evansville Courier & Press, Evansville, IN
Monday, December 20, 2010
EVANSVILLE — The Evansville Fire Department will begin providing fire protection and medical service to parts of Knight Township outside of the city limits come Jan. 1.
Selectmen weigh fire department staffing proposal
Town Administrator Michael Carroll says four more career firefighters would cost less than $10,000 a year
EastBayRI.com, Bristol, RI
12/20/10 03:31PM
SEEKONK - A move to increase the number of career firefighters in Seekonk seems more likely than ever after a board of selectmen meeting last Wednesday night, Dec. 15.
Edison mayor: Take EMT duties away from firefighters
myCentralJersy.com, Somerville, NJ
December 20, 2010
EDISON — Mayor Antonia Ricigliano will stop assigning firefighters to emergency medical units, a move billed as a way to increase the number of firefighters available to fight fires.
