Ben Marcus: Mayor's Pension Fix is a Pay Day Loan

Started by benmarcus, July 28, 2016, 11:14:07 AM

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Non-RedNeck Westsider

#30
July 29, 2016, 02:27:49 PM
Quote from: sanmarcomatt on July 29, 2016, 12:27:39 PM
Has there been any explanation given as to why Curry cannot do his "pension negotiating" before a new tax...err...  redistributing other peoples money....err "revenue stream" is approved? Of course, I know if it is approved he will roll his sleeves up and start negotiating those changes! The sheeple  can count on that! But just curious...

I'm pretty sure I asked that question already also.  Crickets.

It seems that whenever common sense ideas are brought up, they get ignored.  Probably because it's really tough, or really stupid, to take a position against common sense.  I don't feel that there are many stupid people on these boards.
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Tacachale

#31
July 29, 2016, 03:03:14 PM
^Common sense is not so common.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

strider

#32
July 29, 2016, 03:26:01 PM
OK, let's say we pass this "pension Sales Tax".  Then NOTHING is negotiated with the pensions.  Isn't the use of the sales tax for this purpose tied (by the state) to the idea that change to the pension plans must be made?  So then the trouble and expense of the vote is for naught?

 
"My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement." Patrica, Joe VS the Volcano.

Tacachale

#33
July 29, 2016, 03:50:17 PM
Quote from: sanmarcomatt on July 29, 2016, 12:27:39 PM
Has there been any explanation given as to why Curry cannot do his "pension negotiating" before a new tax...err...  redistributing other peoples money....err "revenue stream" is approved? Of course, I know if it is approved he will roll his sleeves up and start negotiating those changes! The sheeple  can count on that! But just curious...

I don't know, but I think they're only targeting a 10% contribution from current employees regardless of what happens. Perhaps that could be higher, but the main savings would be from new employees going on cheaper plans, which has to be done through collective bargaining. There's a certain amount where we won't be able to take anymore without risking losing good employees. The current plan's comparable to other Florida cities.

My question is why didn't either of the last two mayors invoke the pension agreement's emergency rules to impose a new contract and reduce benefits after the Great Recession. They were explicitly written to help in that kind of crisis. Unfortunately, the media doesn't report on things like that anymore.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

TheCat

#34
July 29, 2016, 04:12:11 PM
^ Except the actuarial reports are explicit. The reports are telling us additional contributions will be needed and that this plan is terrible.

When a person brings a glass of water to a grease fire, don't let them dump the water on the fire because "it's the best option we got." Aggravating an issue (as water does to a grease fire) is not a solution it is disastrous.

The below video explains Mayor Curry's solution a lot better than I ever will...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WAQcQuARU8

tufsu1

#35
July 30, 2016, 10:27:02 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on July 28, 2016, 10:18:35 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on July 28, 2016, 09:40:00 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on July 28, 2016, 06:22:32 PM
All right, riddle me this: what is the better solution? Be prepared to show your work.

For starters, there is no reason we can't raise the millage right now.  That way we can start paying down the pension liability in 2016, not borrowing against revenues that won't show up until 2031.

Yes, we sure could. The downside is that it's a 2 or 3 mill hike (or more) in a single term or it's not going to solve the problem any more than the last couple of bandaids.

fine...so be it....that would put our rate about even with Tampa and Miami

tufsu1

#36
July 30, 2016, 10:28:33 PM
Quote from: strider on July 29, 2016, 03:26:01 PM
OK, let's say we pass this "pension Sales Tax".  Then NOTHING is negotiated with the pensions.  Isn't the use of the sales tax for this purpose tied (by the state) to the idea that change to the pension plans must be made?  So then the trouble and expense of the vote is for naught?

 

correct

MusicMan

#38
August 17, 2016, 09:09:21 PM Last Edit: August 17, 2016, 09:22:30 PM by MusicMan
Ben Marcus is 100% correct. I have a hard time believing the Mayor's answer to this "emergency" is a tax that kicks in in 2031.
DAMN. How stupid are we as citizens to support this?  And this Mayor is supposed to be an Accountant? WTF is going on in Jacksonville.

Pass a small incremental RE tax increase and do a 1 cent sales tax increase NOW.  Freedom isn't free, nor is a great city.  VOTE NO and lets get a better plan in place before this turd of a plan passes.
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