July 5, 2017
Dear Elected Official:
The 2017 Civil Grand Jury has issued three reports about unfunded retirement costs, which, of itself, indicates the urgency of the problem.
1. Marin’s Retirement Health Care Benefits
2. The Budget Squeeze: How Will Marin Fund Its Public Employee Pensions
3. The Big Picture: Funding Marin’s Public Employee Pensions and Retirement Health Care Benefits.
The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (CO$T) joins the authors of the Civil Grand Jury reports and the members of Citizens for Sustainable Pension Plans (CSPP) in calling for reforms
CO$T members know from experience that unfunded pension and post-employment health benefits obligations are prompting municipalities, schools, and special districts to seek tax and rate increases — often in glossy language that hides the true reason for the increase. Our mission is to inform ratepayers about taxes and fees that are unaffordable, unfair, lack transparency, or are forcing cuts to services.
CO$T encourages you to endorse the Grand Jury recommendations and take bold and immediate steps to reform the unsustainable pension and post-employment health care system that is undercutting government services.
Sincerely,
COST CORE TEAM
Mimi Willard, Carsten Andersen, Doug Kelly, Susan Kirsch & Paul Premo
https://www.marincounty.org/depts/gj/reports-and-responses/reports-responses/2016-17/the-big-picture
https://www.marincounty.org/depts/gj/reports-and-responses/reports-responses/2016-17/the-budget-squeeze
Sent to these elected officials:
Marin County Supervisors and County Administrator
Damon Connolly dconnolly@marincounty.org
Judy Arnold jarnold@marincounty.org
Dennis Rodoni drodoni@marincounty.org
Katie Rice krice@marincounty.org
Kate Sears ksears@marincounty.org
Matthew Hymel mhymel@marincounty.org
Governor Jerry Brown: governor@governor.ca.gov
Congressman Jared Huffman: CA02JHima@mail.house.gov; jenny.callaway@mail.house.gov
State Assembly Marc Levine: Assemblymember.Levine@assembly.ca.gov
State Senator Mike McGuire: senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov
Copies Sent to:
Marin Independent Journal Opinion Page Editor Brad Breithaupt: opinion@marinij.com
Marin Independent Journal Columnist Dick Spotswood: spotswood@comcast.net
Marin Post: marinpost@comcast.net
Marin County Grand Jury Foreman Jay Hamilton-Roth: j@manygoodideas.com
Marin County Grand Jurors’ Association President Jack Nixon: jgnixon@sonic.net
