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Democratic Mayors Join House Majority Leader Mike Turzai and Rep. Seth Grove To Support Municipal Pension Reform Reform effort gains shot in arm with legislative leadership support On April 8, 2014, business and municipal leaders from across Pennsylvania, all members of the Coalition for Sustainable Communities, joined House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) to show support for HB 1581 – a critical piece of municipal pension reform legislation. HB 1581 is designed to give communities the tools needed to both rein in the spiraling costs of municipal pensions and maintain public safety by protecting jobs for uniformed police and fire. Leader Turzai said that if lawmakers in Harrisburg were to address state-level pension distress, it would be a gross oversight to ignore the same problem plaguing cities, townships and boroughs across the state. "I join Rep. Seth Grove and the dozens of local elected officials from across the state today to endorse the need to address municipal pension distress," Turzai announced. "I commend Rep. Grove for his work on HB 1581. We cannot fail to act. Only the state legislature can statutorily grant local governments the tools they need to control the costs of spiraling pensions. It is critical to ensure our communities are safe and fiscally sound." Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray explained the financial drain pension costs have had on his city's budget. "Pension costs in the City of Lancaster have hurt our budget and forced cuts to services including public safety. Since 2007, police personnel expenses in Lancaster have increased by nearly 16 percent in spite of a 15 percent reduction in the number of sworn officers over the same time period. Likewise, fire personnel expenses increased by almost 20 percent, despite a 17 percent reduction in the number of firefighters. Not surprisingly, current police and fire personnel costs account for nearly 60 percent of the city's total budget. Without key reforms, such as HB 1581, local governments and taxpayers are strapped with crushing financial burdens." Listed below is additional information on municipal pension reform and H.B. 1581:
Media Coverage EDITORIAL: If not this bill, what?York Dispatch - April 15, 2014 Coalition supports pension reform bill Mayor Bracey: Reform pensions for community sustainability A way out of Pa. pension mess House leader emphasizes need for municipal pension reform For local police & fire pensions, an overhaul with House GOP blessing House Majority Leader Mike Turzai highlights need for action on municipal pension reform Legislation aims to stabilize pension costs for municipalities A New Pension Plan |
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