Pension, Pay Concessions Key to City Budget Solution

Terms of the deal between public safety workers and the City of Rohnert Park that salvages the Police and Fire department in town are beginning to become known, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported today.

Although the exact provisions of the budget arrangement have not yet been released, the outlines are becoming apparent. The final shape of the deal is presumed to have been reached during an during the regular public portion of the City Council meeting Tuesday evening.

For some months the city has been considering "outsourcing" public services. The town’s police services would have been contracted out to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department, while its fire services would have been outsourced to the Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District.

The agreement apparently "ends Rohnert Park's flirtation with outsourcing," according to the Press Democrat.

The concessions, which include changes to benefit plans, will save the city $2.3 million over two years. That will help pull the city back from a financial brink it has perched on for three years.

“It's tremendous for what it means for the city ... we don't have to worry or talk about bankruptcy,” [Mayor Gina] Belforte said.

Central to the savings are changes to the public safety officers pension plan — a major development for a city struggling under the weight of its employee benefit costs.

Some elements of the agreement include the payment by police and fire officers to pay into their own pension plans out of salary, rather than have the city pick it up. A pay freeze is also included.

“That puts real cash into the city's general fund coffers that we can continue to use for funding city services to our residents,” said City Manager Gabe Gonzalez.

Further details on the concessions are expected when the official agreement is made public.