FW: Questions that were asked
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Fred Hawkins Jr.
Jan 9, 2011, 10:05:21 PM1/9/11
to harm...@googlegroups.com
Again sorry for the delay. I found the problem in a mistyped email address. Interesting article and comments on pension. I think we all know that reform is coming, we just do not know how much or how bad for that matter depending on your perspective.
I will chime in and say that something does have to be done, because the current system is like social security and can not be maintained. There has to be some employee contribution and the time of 6 years initial investment
to 10 maybe a way to start. I am not sure where Todd is coming from on 25 years for Fire Fighters? Unless that is for full investment of 3/4 of highest salary?
I am not sure if I have stated this before but the problems started in the 1970's when the state took away the employee contribution to any type of fund. Then in the boom years of the 2000's it
was hard for the public sector to get high qualified employees so changes were once again made to try to bring those individuals to work for the government sector. I will tell you I am not sure why elected officials at the local level are even included
in the pension? To me I treat it like social security...I am not counting on that to sustain me and my family in my retirement years. I treat it like educating my daughter, it starts in the home and I have to do my own investing with money I currently
make to have the retirement I want...not relying on others to do it for me.
I do know the thought process behind the 8 years investment is that the state knows rarely does an elected official stay in the same position for more than 2 terms.
Below I think I have responded to the questions that were presented.
Fred Hawkins, Jr.
District 5
Osceola County Commission
From: Fred Hawkins Jr.
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 2:43 PM
To: harm...@gogglegroups.com
Subject: Questions that were asked
Again I am sorry for the delay but due to the Holidays and events it took a little longer to get the information that I wanted. I hope all of you enjoyed your Holidays and have started the New Year
off to a positive start.
I believe the question were specific to the numbers that relate to the issues of the Fire Department and the Sheriff's department.
A little history going back to last year, (2009) the Sheriff inherited 14 resource officers that in the past had been funded by the school board due to these officer working in the schools. At that time,
the school board decided to make cuts and not fund these positions. Instead of laying off these 14 positions they were either moved to other positions or kept in the certain schools and funded from the sheriff's budget. Additionally the Sheriff absorbed
a 11% increase in health benefits to his people and did not pass the increase on to his employees. In so doing all of this he decreased his budget by over $2 million dollars.
This year there was an increase to the sheriff's budget of about $1.2 million. This was not due to any increase in pay for anyone nor for any new equipment but to cover the increase in pensions that had to be paid
into the system. This is why pension reform is going to be addressed at the state level because of the impact it has on the budgets of local and state governments. It should be noted that there have been no pay increases for the past 2 years to any officers.
As for the number that the BOCC requested be reduced to the Fire Budget it is $655 thousand. The average cost that the BOCC has been told to operate a station such as Pine
Grove is $750 thousand.
Since we last spoke there has been conversation with the 2 cities to provide coverage to any area that the county might close a station. In some cases the response is a very small increase in time but
as we all know any increase is tough when it is your house or loved one that needs attention.
Fred Hawkins, Jr.
District 5
Osceola County Commission
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