The Citizens for Sustainable Pension Plans is a tenacious group of local citizens.
The Marin-based pension reform group doesn’t take no for an answer, even though it has heard that word a lot since its formation, when the taxpayer cost of public pensions grew to a point where public services were cut and taxes were being raised.
That rising taxpayer cost was the result of a triple-whammy: public agencies negotiated contracts providing workers with higher salaries and generous benefits; the recession took a toll on tax revenue; and the double-digit investment returns predicted to cover the cost of those benefits disappeared.
In response, public agencies were forced to cut services, lay off workers and raise taxes.
CSPP wants the county to change the way it conducts the public’s business. It says greater public transparency and information are needed in county contract negotiations to help prevent a repeat of costly pay and benefits mistakes made in prior contracts, which were hammered out in behind-closed-doors talks between county officials and union representatives.
Contract changes are usually approved with little time for public review of contents and cost of the new pacts.
Usually, there is a staff report detailing the estimated cost and benefits changes, but there is little time or details made available to actually test the math.
CSPP wants supervisors to switch to a process called COIN — Civic Openness in Negotiations.
COIN, which has been adopted in Orange County and a couple Southern California cities, requires public agencies to give the public a month to review contracts and staff’s financial projections before they are up for approval.
At a recent meeting, CSPP members turned out to urge supervisors to adopt COIN.
They didn’t get much of an answer, primarily because the item was not listed on the agenda for public discussion.
It should be, and supervisors should respond to CSPP’s proposal, even if their response is to express their confidence in business as usual.
They also might have some ideas of their own.
Given the growing cost of salaries and benefits, there may be good reason for change in the long-held practice of virtually leaving the public in the dark when considering such a large and growing share of the county’s budget.
