Bufnews article:
Marilla Board delays vote on raising firefighter pensions
"The Marilla Town Board will vote Aug. 21 on proposed increases in the firefighters pension fund to meet the county deadline for a November ballot referendum.
The board had intended to vote on the issue at its meeting Thursday but, with two absences and the recusal of Supervisor George Gertz, who is a volunteer firefighter, there weren't enough votes"
"Gertz issued an apology Thursday for the delay in the vote to Bill Blarr, president of the fire company, which is seeking a yearly pension increase from the current $480 to the state maximum of $700"
"No one is going to get rich on it and no one is going to be able to retire on it, but we need to attract younger members." Gertz said
.
Also on the referendum is a measure reducing the age at which firefighters qualify for the benefits, from 65 to 60"
My post:"With all due respect to the "Volunteers" - this is another hidden cost to home owning tax payers. Those who volunteer and receive no benefits from other jobs are deserving of consideration.
Too many times those pushing for accelerated access and increased payments already have either employment in the public or private sector. This double dipping at the hidden expense to the tax paying home owners needs to end.
Politics has turned most Volunteer Companies into nothing more than a tax funded voter base loyal to the Controlling Party People.
Finally: It seems painfully obvious theres vague intention being expressed, how does lowering the age when one can collect or increasing the amount someone collects "Encourage the enrollment and retention of younger members" - sounds like your local politicians are ducking this because they too smell some fish in the mix.