Here’s a letter I sent off to the Enterprise Record the other day.
I wish more taxpayers would read the city police contract, available here
http://www.chico.ca.us/human_resources_and_risk_management/documents/CPOA_MOU.pdf
before they jump on any ill-conceived attempts to raise local taxes to fund the cop shop.
Police employees pay nothing toward their medical or dental.
Police employees pay only 9 percent of their pension, which amounts to 90 percent of their highest year’s salary at age 50.
In addition to workman’s comp, the city pays for “long term disability insurance.” This premium is treated as a “post tax” payment so they don’t have to pay income taxes on it.
Contracts force all “permanent and probationary employees” to “be dues paying members of CPOA or shall pay a service fee to CPOA.” Furthermore, “city agrees to deduct CPOA dues or fee from employee pay.” The Supreme Court just ruled this practice illegal for home health care workers.
For years we’ve been threatened by our own police to either pay up or be left to the wolves. Our ex-city manager Tom Lando once said, “the police department is always trying to get it’s foot in the door for more money.” I am not willing to pay more to self-interested tyrants. Like the editor says, it’s time for us to learn to take care of ourselves. Join the Chico Taxpayers Association in protesting the contracts that have brought us to the brink of bankruptcy.
Juanita Sumner, Chico
What can we do about it? We need to elect better people to city council. Scott Gruendl and Mark Sorensen have both signed the contracts that give these employees all this bling. They don’t think there’s anything wrong with the contracts. They both have similar contracts at their publicly-paid jobs. Gruendl makes over $100,000 a year at Glenn County, and I’m guessing he does not even pay the nominal 9 percent toward his benefits and pension – ask him yourself. Sorensen gets about $90,000 a year as city manager of Biggs, plus the usual benefits, and I’ll guess he’s not paying 9 percent either. Ask him.
Do me a favor, ask these jackamoes a few questions about these contracts before you give them your support.
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