Dave was reminding me the other day (thanks Dave), elections come and go, but the suits are always working on tax increases. It’s true, elected officials are here today, gone tomorrow, but The Song Remains the Same – City of Chico Staff is always trying to find a way to get us to pay their outrageous salaries and benefits, without providing us with any services.
I thought BC really wrapped it up good when he said, “Chico taxpayers… are guaranteeing the generous salaries and benefits of well heeled, well paid, privileged city employees.”
So, I wrote a letter to the editor about it! I borrowed generously from BC’s remarks made a week or so ago here, I hope that’s okay BC! I did change your comment about “average income” to “median family income” because that’s the only statistic I could verify. Still works.
At my blog, chicotaxpayers.com, we’re discussing the Pension Obligation Bond currently being considered in closed door meetings Downtown.
CalPERS promises to fund the pensions with a 7% investment return, but have not met that target, forcing city of Chico to dip into the General Fund to make increasing payments. That’s right – Chico taxpayers, with a median family income of $43,000/yr, are guaranteeing the generous salaries and benefits of well heeled, well paid, privileged city employees.
A Pension Obligation Bond must be paid ahead of everything else, at the expense of city services. In the event of a bad return, the bond holders can take our entire General Fund.
To use a credit card analogy: The City has run up so much credit card (pension) debt, they can’t even make the minimum payment. So while they keep spending at the same or greater rate (hiring three new management positions this year), they mortgage the house to pay down the credit cards. They can’t afford to keep the house up (deteriorating municipal facilities, parks and public areas), can’t fix the driveway (deteriorating streets), can’t afford a security system (fire and police), and eventually can’t afford to put food on the table for the family (homeless).
City services will never be adequately funded until employees start paying their fair share.
Tell Mayor and Finance Committee member Ann Schwab what you think, at ann.schwab@chicoca.gov
Juanita Sumner, Chico CA
POST SCRIPT: I’d also like to see Mark Orme fired, but maybe if we apply enough heat to the seat of his pants we can just make him quit.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Very Good.
Thanks Jim, you keep me honest.