Layoffs are likely at City Hall, especially if the three unions
representing most of Morgan Hill’s employees don’t come to the
table and renegotiate contracts. And that’s unacceptable.
Layoffs are likely at City Hall, especially if the three unions representing most of Morgan Hill’s employees don’t come to the table and renegotiate contracts. And that’s unacceptable.
It’s becoming more and more frustrating for taxpayers who must subsidize public employees, who not only make more than the average private employee, but whose retirement plans are guaranteed, unlike those of most private employees.
And if the City Council has a choice, it should force employees to take pay cuts, contribute more to their health and benefit package and to their retirement plan, before laying off employees and reducing basic services for residents.
The question is, do we cut police and fire? No one wants that. Do we further cut City Hall, where significant cuts have already been made? Do we cut senior services, parks and recreation, streets and sewer maintenance?
Those are the choices. Further erode the city services we pay for so 195 city workers can have better pay, benefits and retirement than those in the private sector.
Last year, city employees averaged $100,427 in wages and benefits. Meanwhile, the average household income for a Morgan Hill resident was $91,067 in 2009.
Morgan Hill’s median total compensation, including wages and all benefits, for a non-public safety employee was about $104,000 as of last year – higher than only three other cities in the county. The median compensation for police in Morgan Hill was about $161,000 last year – also higher than only three other cities in the county.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Gilroy, the median compensation for non-public safety employees was about $86,000, while for public safety employees (including firefighters) it was about $156,000.
We’ve been saying this for years, and will continue to do so until something is done.
It’s time for the City Council to insist public employee unions reopen contracts and renegotiate. Whether it’s forgoing raises, taking pay cuts, paying more toward health and benefits and retirements, doesn’t matter. What does matter is that taxes paid need to be put toward services that benefits residents. Not what benefits city workers.
