Transparent California Releases 2013 Payroll and Pension Data
Transparent California Releases 2013 Payroll and Pension Data
Today, the California Policy Center (CPC) released 2013 payroll and pension data (the most recent data available) on TransparentCalifornia.com, the largest ever online database of California state and local government employee pensions, salaries, and benefits. The data shows that public compensation in California is growing more out of control, threatening the solvency of the state...
By Mark Bucher
Fire District Board Passes Tax Increase to Sustain $263,000 Median Annual Compensation
Fire District Board Passes Tax Increase to Sustain $263,000 Median Annual Compensation
The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District board just announced that a new tax increase, known as a benefit assessment, has passed, amidst criticism deriding the measure as unlawful. The District has a long history of budgetary woes, coupled with lavish $263k median compensation packages, amidst a union-backed board known for its aggressive tactics to fight any efforts...
By Robert Fellner
Fire Chief of 17 person District takes home $395K; District seeks property tax increase
Fire Chief of 17 person District takes home $395K; District seeks property tax increase
The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District is located roughly 30 minutes north of San Francisco. The District provides fire protection and emergency services to the City of Hercules and the Rodeo area and had 17 full-time employees on staff in 2013. The District serves approximately 33,000 people over roughly 23 square miles. Recently, the District held a...
By Robert Fellner
Comparing compensation information on Transparent California and State Controller’s site
Comparing compensation information on Transparent California and State Controller’s site
Two is usually better than one, and that’s certainly true when it comes to databases of government employee compensation. In the case of California, there are two main searchable statewide databases. Those sites are TransparentCalifornia.com, which provides information on government payrolls and pensions, and the State Controller’s Office (SCO) Government Compensation website. The main advantage...
By Robert Fellner
Examining the CalSTRS Shareholder Bailout
Examining the CalSTRS Shareholder Bailout
“CalSTRS has a $70-plus-billion unfunded liability – even with assumed investment earnings that Brown deems ‘highly unlikely’ – and says it needs about $5 billion more a year to regain solvency.” – Dan Walters column, “Brown budget reflects state’s massive debt,” May 25, 2014, Sacramento Bee Those “investment earnings” that Walters quotes Brown as finding...
By Edward Ring
Comparing Pension Reform in Pacific Grove vs. Bakersfield
Comparing Pension Reform in Pacific Grove vs. Bakersfield
Editor’s note: Several times this year we have published in-depth investigative reports written by John Moore, a citizen activist living in Pacific Grove. This recent letter from Moore was addressed to the local newspapers serving Pacific Grove. Moore is unhappy with the coverage these newspapers have given the city of Pacific Grove’s pension crisis. The...
By John Moore
How Public Sector Unions Took Control of New York City
How Public Sector Unions Took Control of New York City
Editor’s Note: Using New York City as an example, even the most hardened conservative will acknowledge there is a world of difference between a assertive centrist businessman such as former Mayor Bloomberg and current mayor de Blasio. The following investigative report by Alec Torres provides an in-depth look at how the hard left has now...
By Alec Torres
The Fragility of "Can't Fail" Thinking
The Fragility of "Can't Fail" Thinking
CalPERS, the large California public pension plan, has filed an amicus brief in the case of Detroit’s bankruptcy. Calpers does not like the Detroit pension plans being treated like unsecured creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding, and cites the constitutional (state constitutional, that is) protections for pensions. Thing is, there’s law, and there’s reality. But let’s...
By Mary Pat Campbell
Public Pension Solvency Requires Asset Bubbles
Public Pension Solvency Requires Asset Bubbles
The title of this post expresses what is probably the greatest example of a monstrous hypocrisy – that public employee unions, and the pension funds they control, are supposedly helping the American economy, and protecting the American people from “the bankers.” Overpriced “bubble” assets caused by banks offering low interest rates hurt ordinary working people...
By Edward Ring
Why Frequently Cited Average Pension Numbers Are Misleadingly Low
Why Frequently Cited Average Pension Numbers Are Misleadingly Low
Public pension systems in California, most notably CalPERS and CalSTRS, are quick to cite their average pension amount as evidence that their pension benefits are reasonable. In addition to the pension plans themselves, many defenders of public pension plans will cite these averages themselves when attempting to counter claims that pension benefits have become excessive...
By Robert Fellner
$170,000+ Average Pay & Benefits for Full-time Employees of Small California Town
$170,000+ Average Pay & Benefits for Full-time Employees of Small California Town
The town of Corte Madera, CA, makes up for what it lacks in size and population, roughly 4 square miles with 9,425 residents, in its exorbitant government compensation packages. City government has approximately 43 full time employees with the average compensation package coming in at over $170,000. That means every man, woman and child in...
By Robert Fellner
Pacific Grove Reformer Alleges Pension Increases Passed Without Due Process
Pacific Grove Reformer Alleges Pension Increases Passed Without Due Process
Editor’s Note: Pacific Grove may be one of the smallest cities in California, but it is on the front lines of the battle for pension reform. Facing financially devastating annual billings from CalPERS, citizen activists are uncovering evidence that the pension benefit enhancements passed by Pacific Grove’s city council may not have complied with the...
By John Moore
San Jose's Public Safety Pensions – Reduce Now or Slash Later
San Jose's Public Safety Pensions – Reduce Now or Slash Later
“Once people get the facts, they do not support slashing people’s pensions.” – Dave Low, chairman, Californians for Retirement Security (Washington Post, February 25, 2014) Really? Making sure “people get the facts” is difficult when most “facts” the public sees are promulgated to the media by pension fund PR departments eager to preserve the torrent...
By Edward Ring
Three Ways California Governments Try To Avoid Transparency
Three Ways California Governments Try To Avoid Transparency
Few politicians or government officials publicly oppose transparency in government. After all, transparency isn’t just about information; it’s a tangible acknowledgment that government officials work for citizens, not the other way around. Still, there’s a big difference between mouthing support for transparency and actually fulfilling public records requests as required by California’s Public Records Act. TransparentCalifornia.com,...
By Robert Fellner