FactFinder sometimes makes valid points that are lost in lack of facts or details, as has been noted elsewhere.
.
FF had a valid point about Town Hall being open ONLY 4 days a week. A good starting place!
Unions were asked to make concessions in the middle of contracts that Selectman Wayne Perkins had single-handedly negotiated. (Weren't those the contracts that provided 36%, 4%, 4% pay raises to SOME town employees?)
.
That's not the way it's done!
.
Middleboro currently pays 90% of HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS for Town employees.
.
Mansfield pays 60% of the cheapest plan.
.
Dighton pays 60%.
.
Make a call to comparable towns and see what they offer. Does ANYONE in the entire state offer 90% payment? (There is no DOR Report available because they were asked.)
.
Middleboro currently offers a $5 CO-PAY and take a look at the PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE.
.
The health care committee that was recently resurrected is composed of ONLY UNION TOWN EMPLOYEES. Does that serve Middleboro taxpayers?
.
Several years ago, Middleboro adopted legislation that provides for lifetime health care coverage for dependents should a town employee die. Doesn't sound significant?
Let's say a 30 year old town employee dies. Middleboro will pay for health care for that employee's dependents.
.
That means that the Town of Middleboro could pay for the next 35 years (or more) for the town employee's widow.
.
At today's costs, that means ~ $15,000 PER YEAR for someone who never worked for the Town.
Some towns have moved their retirees to Medicare.
Health care is indeed a budget buster that Middleboro refuses to address appropriately. MMA
And wait until you see what's included in the contracts that the interim Town Manager has negotiated.
.
Does anyone believe that a Prop. 2 1/2 OVERRIDE is acceptable to voters until issues such as health care are addressed?
.
Cambridge links wages to health insurance costs MMA
FactFinderRegistered: 11/21/07Posts: 330
Two years ago the unions were asked to pay a bigger portion of the health insurance premium to save the town about $1,000,000 per year. In perpetuity and the rank and file said no. "Why should we. We don't have to. It's not in our contract." When I heard those comments that could have saved the town real money. I throw up my hands and say 0% 0% 0%.
4 comments:
Lifetime coverage for surviving dependents of a town employee? Outrageous. Never happen in the private sector.
Come on now. And why shouldn't we pay for surviving dependents of a town employee? We pay for everything else now don't we? Why start to discriminate now? A little late for Middleboro to dig out of the hole this great board of selectman have put us in. Soon, we'll be totally financially supporting the majority of these groupie townies.
Pensions for town employees that work less than 10 hours a week (town counsel). 90% paid health care. Larger pay raises. It’s a good thing Middleboro has money to burn!!
And just wait until you see the contracts that the interim Town Manager has negotiated!
Too busy to attent Town Meeting?
Post a Comment