THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120226
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Portsmouth's retired police and firefighters are again pressing the city for more money, about $2.3 million, according to news reports.
Nobody begrudges hard-working public employees a decent pension; however, the proposed raise for retirees seems out-of-line in a city that already has trouble making ends meet.
Providing a pension raise for those who retired many years ago might be appropriate because of the low pay of the time. However, those who retired in recent years have it better than most Portsmouth taxpayers.
A 45-year-old fireman with 20 years in the department and earning $30,000 annually would retire with an $18,000 pension plus a $2,400 supplement until age 65. That's an annual pension of $20,400 or more than two-thirds of what the firefighter earned when working full time.
A person 55 with 30 years service would receive a total pension of $24,900, just $6,100 less that the person received while working.
In addition to seeking a pension raise for themselves, the police and fire union members are pushing for a 5 percent cost-of-living raise for all city employees in addition to the 3 percent raise recommended by the city manager in the proposed budget. That would amount to another $2 million and would give city employees a raise far greater percentage-wise than that received by many people who pay the taxes here.
The police and firefighters are playing political football with their demands, promising to endorse the candidates who agree to meet their demands.
Voters who hear the union's endorsements should think twice before they follow the advice.
Again, nobody begrudges fair compensation and fair pensions and most people would even support raises for those who retired many years ago.
But raises for current public employees and recent retiree must be in line with the ability of the citizens who pay the bills. by CNB