Last fall the Governor issued a 12-point plan he described as a starting point towards responsible public employee pension reform. The so-called “reform advocates” and public employee union representatives immediately engaged in a heated debate over what the Governor intended and which employees would, or should, be impacted by the reforms.
CAPE representatives continue to work with state and local officials, the press and stakeholders to outline our position: Responsible reforms should not include mandates on public agencies and pension systems not facing budget problems or critically low funding levels. Los Angeles County, and LACERA, would not benefit from Sacramento-style mandates for changing the way we are already, and responsibly, managing the retirement benefits and funding mechanism for County workers.
In fact, many of the reforms most vehemently promoted by pension reform advocates were implemented in Los Angeles County in the 1980’s. Other components of the so-called “reforms” would actually cost taxpayers more, not less, for the foreseeable future.
Perhaps the most surprising of the reforms promoted by some city officials are demanding statewide caps on pension calculations. They are, in effect, saying “please don’t let me negotiate a generous benefit” as if they can’t control themselves in their discussions with bargaining units. County officials, for the most part, are in favor of local control.
The debate over public employee pensions will eventually take one of two paths: It will deteriorate along the lines of angry and misleading allegations against public employees to a ballot measure passed by voters; or it will come down to a serious discussion of what state and local governments can responsibly afford, and what level of secure pension compensation is earned after a career of dedicated public service.
CAPE representatives are dedicated to making sure the discussions follow the responsible path. News reports indicate that the pension reform advocates promoting a statewide ballot measure are running short of money to secure the nearly one million signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. However, the Governor’s 12-point plan is expected to emerge into legislation soon. When it does, CAPE representatives will be working with the statewide labor interests to protect local control over pension benefits.
For more information, visit the CAPE website, or call the CAPE office at (213) 484-0400.