NOTE: As with most Internet polls, this poll is not balanced against a weighted sample. There is no statistical accuracy relating to any specific demographic of poll takers. Anyone can take this poll and the Northender collects no data about the respondents.
Taxpayers Need Change in Public Sector Pension Strategy
Ready for a change in public sector pension strategy?
With healthcare benefit cost increases that far exceed the inflation rate and taxpayer paid lifetime benefits to school employees, police and government workers, it is time to take a stand either on the side of continuing such benefits or sitting down with the appropriate unions and negotiating reasonable co-pay arrangements. Unionized industries, such as the auto industry, recognize the trap we’ve fallen into and the real economic costs they face and deal with in the form of higher product costs and lower profits. In ever increasing numbers, colleges and universities are facing the issue head on.
Rational people can and should sit down and deal with these issues now. Our local school board and school administration must accept its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer and address these important issues with more aggressive cost controls.
The increasing longevity of the retiring workforce should signal a change from defined benefit plans (with unknown future costs) to defined contribution plans (with known current costs) as has become the accepted practice in the private sector. A 401(k) plan is an example of a defined contribution plan. Participants can benefit from the tax deferral savings and taxpayers would benefit because the current costs are known. Healthcare benefit costs have mushroomed in recent years as well, with public sector costs being borne primarily by the taxpayer some of whom may not even have healthcare coverage. Co-pays of 50% for these benefits are not unreasonable.
Taxpayers need changes sooner rather than later.
Anita MacDougall, Oyster Bay NY
cc Governor Eliot Spitzer
County Executive Tom Suozzi
State Senator Carl Marcellino
