Honolulu mayor stresses benefits reform
The nationwide battle to control employee benefit spending has reached Honolulu, Hawaii, as lawmakers confront budget deficit issues. According to KGMB-TV, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle announced his hopes of reforming the city's employee benefits and pension packages during his first state of the city speech.
The city has already confronted a payroll problem by extending furloughs to public workers. However, to cut into Honolulu's $100 million deficit, Carlisle said the city will need to enact further reforms that include greater employee contributions into benefits and stricter controls regarding overtime pay.
"There are people that have been out of work for two years and yet some departments with the city have been getting raises. That's at the expense of the people who can't work so that's not my idea of shared sacrifice," Carlisle said, according to the news source.
Carlisle said he would consider public employee layoffs as a last resort, but that such an option is on the table given the amount of payroll disparity in the city. Currently, Honolulu boasts only $29 million in its rainy day fund.
The city has already confronted a payroll problem by extending furloughs to public workers. However, to cut into Honolulu's $100 million deficit, Carlisle said the city will need to enact further reforms that include greater employee contributions into benefits and stricter controls regarding overtime pay.
"There are people that have been out of work for two years and yet some departments with the city have been getting raises. That's at the expense of the people who can't work so that's not my idea of shared sacrifice," Carlisle said, according to the news source.
Carlisle said he would consider public employee layoffs as a last resort, but that such an option is on the table given the amount of payroll disparity in the city. Currently, Honolulu boasts only $29 million in its rainy day fund.
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