By: Diane Benjamin
Tari Renner’s claims to now be protecting the taxpayers of Bloomington in the Metro Zone flap are a joke.
Why?
Besides the fact that 5 Aldermen put Metro Zone on the agenda, not Renner – what happened to the letters Tari received at Rosie’s from citizens about their health insurance costs? We know City employees have Gold Plated Benefits, but that discussion has disappeared! Aldermen Fruin asked for an investigation last September! https://blnnews.com/2016/09/30/tari-did-city-hall-move/
Now Tari has no excuse for not putting an ordinance on the agenda to ban Pension Spiking!
Last November I did a story about the City claiming they were waiting for the outcome of a lawsuit filed in Springfield: https://blnnews.com/2016/11/29/nothing-better-than-lies/. Pension spiking could have been banned in 2012 when the City found out it was going to cost them BIG. To date the cost is around $1.6 million and Bloomington is the laughing-stock of the state after Emily Bell retired from HR, spiked her pension, and cost the taxpayers $360,031.11!
Keep in mind we didn’t know about this cost because WIRE TRANSFERS has been left off Bills and Payroll for around 2 1/2 years! https://blnnews.com/2015/09/10/mondays-agenda-approve-wire-transfers/
The lawsuit the City used to justify NOT changing the policy was filed in 2015. On March 3, 2017 the Appeals Court ruled the City of Springfield:
“. . .could constitutionally terminate a city rule which had allowed workers to boost their pensions by essentially cashing in unused vacation time a few months before retirement, taking an “end-run” around state rules designed to prevent the practice.”
If the City of Bloomington had banned spiking at any time since 2012, it wouldn’t have cost taxpayers $1.6 million. I’m sure more employees are gearing up to spike their own pensions. A change to the ordinance needs to be on the agenda ASAP.
March 13th is the next date possible.
If ending Pension Spiking from any source isn’t on that agenda, Renner doesn’t care about taxpayers!
This abuse is easy to stop. It always has been easy – just Renner and Hales didn’t care enough to do it.
.
.
.
Where I retired from you used your vacation time that year or you lost it. Why is the city any difference
The City’s problems stem from accumulated sick days. The could accumulate them for years and then get paid at their final rate of pay for all the time they never took. Only government!
OK use them or lose them. It that simple
Common sense! Government doesn’t have any.
Tari’s beholden to the potential spikers.
Exciting news! My son will be 18 on Wednesday. He reads your blog and will be voting for Lower. A VOTE against Tari😀
Tell him Happy Birthday!
Both Alderman Lower and Alderman Fruin have tried to get the review of the Health Insurance Policy on the agenda. The Mayor and City Manager control what is placed on the agenda. Apparently, none of the other Alderman are interested in saving the City money either since it takes the support of 4 Alderman to get an item on the agenda. The current budget proposal calls for borrowing $2M from the Employee Health Account. Where is the fiscal responsibility and common sense in that?
For quite some time, IMRF has been offering seminars geared toward HR directors for the purpose of providing them with the details to modify the spiking policy within the parameters of the law. Hales has not sent anyone to these seminars. What does that tell you?
Little Scottie keeps asking where can cuts be made. Take note, sir!! There is no need for grandstanding and scare tactics. How about listening and working with some of the mature, more experienced and senior members of the Council.