PENSIONS/BUDGET

Kasich's budget would knock state pension funds off solvency track

The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio

Monday, March 21, 2011  11:03 PM

Imagine that you have a 30-year mortgage. But you have only enough money coming in to pay off the mortgage in 35 or 45 years.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/21/kasichs-budget-would-knock-state-pension-funds-off-solvency-track.html?sid=101

SJ Councilman Says Deeper Cuts Are Needed

KTVU San Francisco, Oakland, CA

Posted: 1:00 am PDT March 19, 2011Updated: 10:07 am PDT March 19, 2011

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Firefighters in San Jose were confused and upset Friday night, after they agreed to give up 10 percent of their wages and benefits, only to learn that one San Jose city councilman said it's not enough.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/27247332/detail.html

Weirton Passes $14.91M Budget

Pension trouble eyed in future

Wheeling Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV

March 19, 2011

WEIRTON - Weirton City Council had a busy morning Friday, passing a $14.91 million budget proposal and discussing how it will allocate the city's entitlement of federal Community Development Block Grant money for the coming fiscal year.

http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/553147/Weirton-Passes--14-91M-Budget.html?nav=515

House plan: Cops, firefighters would have to work till 60

The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL

Published: March 18, 2011

Police and firefighters could have to work until age 60 under legislation passed Thursday by a Florida House committee seeking to overhaul the state pension system.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/18/house-plan-cops-firefighters-would-have-to-work-ti/

Town avoids pension woes by outsourcing

Block Island Times, Block Island, RI

03.21.11 - 12:02 am

03/19/11 - Around Rhode Island public employee pensions are becoming an increasingly critical issue as towns try to grapple with budget shortfalls. Governor Lincoln Chafee included increased pension contributions from teachers in his 2012 state budget. This past week in Warwick Mayor Scott Avedision proposed a limit to benefits for police, firefighters and public employees and to create a minimum retirement age.

http://www.blockislandtimes.com/view/full_story/12408903/article-Town-avoids-pension-woes-by-outsourcing?instance=home_news_1st_right

New Field Poll finds Californians favor pension cuts

San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA

Posted: 03/17/2011 06:55:12 PM PDT   Updated: 03/18/2011 10:39:07 AM PDT

A new poll released Thursday found California voters support efforts to pare back pension benefits for police, firefighters, teachers and other public employees.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17639490?nclick_check=1

House Panel Moves FRS Bill Along

WCTV, Tallahassee, FL

Posted: 11:22 AM Mar 18, 2011

Pension bills began moving Thursday in both chambers as lawmakers continue their quest to shift from a traditional pension to investment accounts and require state and local workers to pay into it.

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/House_Panel_Moves_FRS_Bill_Along_118241529.html?ref=529

Fla. House panel OKs Scott's proposal for state workers to contribute 5% of pay toward pension

The Republic, Columbus, IN

First Posted: March 17, 2011 - 6:59 pm   Last Updated: March 17, 2011 - 8:55 pm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott's proposal for state workers, teachers and many local public employees to contribute 5 percent of their pay to the Florida Retirement System won approval Thursday from a Florida House committee.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0f6f71a7be32454d82be17508aa51a33/FL-XGR--Public-Pensions/

Council expected to vote on merger with Wilkinsburg fire

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office is expected to submit legislation next week to merge the city and Wilkinsburg fire departments, a deal that could be in place by April 1.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11078/1133270-56.stm

Most city voters back merit-based layoffs

New York Post, New York, NY

Last Updated: 8:09 AM, March 20, 2011   Posted: 12:09 AM, March 19, 2011

Expel LIFO!

That's the verdict of a whopping 78 percent of city voters, who said teacher layoffs should be based on performance rather than the seniority-based "last in, first out" law, according to a poll released yesterday.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/most_city_voters_back_merit_based_Lf8KTjhhmJZN84OXSo4usN

Belvidere City Council delays budget approval

Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL

Posted Mar 21, 2011 @ 11:34 PM

BELVIDERE — The City Council tabled its fiscal 2012 budget vote tonight with the hope of saving at least one additional job.

http://www.rrstar.com/top_stories/x698065477/Belvidere-City-Council-delays-budget-approval

Mother Nature Hits City Coffers

Wall Street Journal

MARCH 19, 2011

The double punch of this winter's greater-than-usual snowfall and last September's tornado boosted the city government's expenses by nearly $100 million, a report from the Independent Budget Office released Friday showed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704713004576209051127934380.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Leggett, Montgomery County unions spar over pension costs

Washington Post

Monday, March 21, 10:09 PM

Montgomery County’s pension and retiree health accounts are facing a long-term shortfall of more than $4.8 billion, and officials repeatedly have pulled back from difficult decisions needed to close the gap.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/leggett-montgomery-county-unions-spar-over-pension-costs/2011/03/16/ABUGqi9_story_1.html

Union boss says fire department retirement may spike

Union boss: Lynch's plan to cut benefits would lead to mass exodus, leaving cities with huge bill to pay, less experienced crews

Seacoastonline.com, Portsmouth, NH

March 18, 2011 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — If state Sen. Jeb Bradley's pension reform bill is made law, 11 city firefighters may give notice of their retirements before July 1 in order to collect checks for unused sick and vacation time, as well as pensions based on those checks and wage "spiking," said Rick Condon, president of the Portsmouth Professional Fire Fighters Local 1313.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110318/NEWS/103180357/-1/NEWSMAP

LAYOFFS/CONTRACTS/SAFER

232 jobs loom over Stockton labor talks

City could see significant cuts due to projected $34 million deficit

Stockton Record, Stockton, CA

March 21, 2011

STOCKTON - Absent more pay and benefit concessions from Stockton's city workers, City Hall would need to eliminate 232 jobs - or about 16 percent of the workforce - to survive a projected $34 million general fund deficit this year, according to figures city leaders will discuss this week.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110321/A_NEWS/103210319/-1/NEWSMAP

St. Louis firefighters respond to furlough proposal

STLtoday.com, St. Louis, MO

Posted: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:31 am

ST. LOUIS • The firefighter's union bashed Mayor Francis Slay and applauded the city's comptroller and aldermanic president in a statement this morning, just days before the three will vote on a final decision concerning firefighter layoffs.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_b916445a-5488-11e0-9fa9-0017a4a78c22.html

Stockton firefighters react to new budget cuts

News10.net, Sacramento, CA

Posted: 3/18/2011

STOCKTON, CA - After years of exemption from budget cuts, the Stockton Fire Department is facing a $19 million cut this year and city hall now faces the prospect of shutting down several fire stations.

http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=128952&catid=2

Pinching has cut 1,050 city jobs

Hiring gains wiped out Trims don’t balance budget

Boston Globe

March 21, 2011

Boston shed 1,050 municipal jobs over the past two years to balance the city’s budget during the recession, trimming the payroll by 6 percent, according to a new report from a fiscal watchdog.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/03/21/pinching_has_cut_1050_city_jobs/

70 jobs under Waukegan budget ax

Lake County News-Sun, Gurnee, IL

Last Modified: Mar 22, 2011 02:14AM

WAUKEGAN — More than 70 employee positions are on the chopping block under a budget proposal made public on Monday that forecasts the city facing a $8.7 million deficit for the 2011-12 fiscal year, with $108.4 million in expenses running high against $99.7 million in revenue.

http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/4443080-418/70-jobs-under-waukegan-budget-ax.html

Firefighters union sees no good in legislation

Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, Tiffin, OH

March 18, 2011

Many local firefighters say they are fighting against the passage of Senate Bill 5, citing several adverse affects on their departments.

http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/535507/Firefighters-union-sees-no-good-in-legislation.html?nav=5005

Rockford officials: Arbitrator's ruling factors into fire savings total

Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL

Posted Mar 21, 2011 @ 04:51 PM  Last update Mar 22, 2011 @ 12:08 AM

ROCKFORD — City firefighters announced they are willing to give $3.1 million in labor concessions through 2014, but the offer is independent of a battle over 2011 wages, which could cost the city as much as $4.2 million in the same period.

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1315189833/Barber-Colman-Sunday-liquor-on-tap-for-Rockford-City-Council

Rockford Fire Department offers city $3.1 million in concessions

Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL

Posted Mar 19, 2011 @ 08:06 PM  Last update Mar 19, 2011 @ 10:43 PM

ROCKFORD — City firefighters have voted “overwhelmingly” to offer Rockford concessions worth $3.1 million through 2014, Firefighters Local 413 President E.J. Dilonardo said today. The union has about 271 members, he said.

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1161121121/Rockford-Fire-Department-offers-concessions-to-city

Compromise may keep board, union out of court

Mohave Valley News, Bullhead City, AZ

Published: Friday, March 18, 2011 2:53 AM MDT

FORT MOHAVE — The Fort Mojave Mesa Fire Board on Thursday voted to accept some terms from its firefighters’ union that may keep the two sides out of court.

http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2011/03/18/news/local/doc4d83187749dd5956369273.txt

Liccardo calls for halt on deal with San Jose firefighters

San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, CA

Posted: 03/18/2011 06:57:27 PM PDT    Updated: 03/19/2011 08:15:52 AM PDT

Hopes for quickly securing pay cut agreements from San Jose employee unions to help close a massive budget shortfall began to fade Friday as some city leaders called for holding off on a tentative deal with firefighters and talks with other workers began to falter.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17648268

Abington’s unions, administrators divided over proposed shift in health care cost

Enterprise News, Brockton, MA
Posted Mar 21, 2011 @ 06:00 AM

ABINGTON — No expense has grown with such fervor and consistency in Abington over the last decade as health care for town employees.

http://www.enterprisenews.com/business/x1664571034/Abington-s-unions-administrators-divided-over-proposed-shift-in-health-care-cost

LOCAL SCENE

Ambulance service staffing a concern in Canton

Canton Repository, Canton, OH

Posted Mar 21, 2011 @ 11:09 PM

CANTON — The president of the firefighters union implored city officials Monday night to adequately staff the department so the city does not have to halt ambulance service like it did for a recent 24-hour period.

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1777825125/Ambulance-service-staffing-a-concern-in-Canton

Word on the Street: Wisconsin fight could galvanize union vote

Peoria Journal Star, Peoria, IL

Posted Mar 20, 2011 @ 11:30 PM

PEORIA — Political firestorms in Wisconsin and other states over labor rights could mean more union members heading to the polls on April 5.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x617854988/Word-on-the-Street-Wisconsin-fight-could-galvanize-union-vote

Woonsocket mayor proposes changing firefighter shifts

Turn to 10.com, Cranston, RI

Published: March 18, 2011

WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- WoonsocketMayorLeo Fontaineis proposing changing firefighters' shifts in a way that he says will save the city money and avoid layoffs.

http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2011/mar/18/woonsocket-mayor-proposes-changing-firefighter-shi-ar-427559/

Third ambulance crew in Mishawaka draws union complaint

South Bend Tribune, South Bend, IN

5:42 PM EDT, March 17, 2011

MISHAWAKA — Mayor Dave Wood proudly announced that, on Monday, the city began staffing a third ambulance crew at all times — up from two.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/sbt-third-ambulance-crew-in-mishawaka-draws-union-complaint-20110317,0,1145661.story

Abington firefighters want public to know their phone fundraiser is no scam

Phone drive will run for three to four weeks

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy MA
Posted Mar 22, 2011 @ 06:00 AM

ABINGTON — Earlier this month, Richard Smith, like many local residents, received a phone call from someone soliciting money to send care packages to Abington men and women serving overseas.

http://www.patriotledger.com/news/cops_and_courts/x1664571180/Abington-firefighters-want-public-to-know-their-phone-fundraiser-is-no-scam

Eagle Scout project to honor fallen Des Plaines fireman

Chicago Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL

Article updated: 3/22/2011 05:11 PM    published: 3/22/2011 12:01 AM

An Eagle Scout project this summer aims to honor the only Des Plaines fireman in history killed in the line of duty after he rescued two unconscious construction workers from a sanitary sewer filled with methane gas nearly 50 years ago.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110322/news/703229942/