Originally Posted by
Lee Chowaniec
You’re right Ace, this is a good budget. That is if you honestly believe this has nothing to do with it being an election year ploy and if you can get yourself to believe that the wage freeze is a good cure-all for the budget increasing in benefits by 12.1%.
The town contributes 30% to the NYS Retirement System for a police employee. A patrol officer earning $68,000 costs the town $20,400. That same officer receives free health care. If it is a family plan, the plan costs town (whoops, taxpayers) another $18,000. We are already up to $106,400. Now throw in longevity, overtime and all the other perks and you have God knows what.
The police chief earns $107,000. Add $32,000 to the pension system and $18,000 in free health and we are at $157,000. Now tell some senior, or low income homeowner, or someone that just lost their job, that they have to pay for pension/ health care plans the likes they do not have.
For a town employee earning $60,000, Lancaster contributes 20% ($12,000) to their retirement system and that employee also receives free health care – if family plan, the cost is $18,000. That employee is costing the town $90,000, and that does not include other compensation.
The town has no control over the NYS Retirement System costs. It does for everything else. Through the years the town has established a legacy that is no longer affordable and/or sustainable.
Spending has been out of control in this town for years. And millions of dollars of taxpayer money has been wasted with the police/courts facility project. Smoke and mirrors, Ace.