NOREEN: City workers feel pain. Are you happy now?
There’s little doubt Colorado Springs city employees are going to take a financial hit in 2010.
It appears they won’t get pay raises and it’s likely that they’ll have to shoulder a bigger portion of their health insurance premiums — in many cases an increase that will cost households more than $1,200 a year.
When the quality of your benefits doesn’t change and you must pay $1,200 more to get them while not getting a raise, you’re getting a pay cut.
Most of us have grown weary of the headlines about foreclosures, layoffs, pay cuts. Based on the comments of readers, some people are re-directing their anger and angst over the economy at public employees, singling them out as villains.
These tough times aren’t bringing out the best in everybody. Misery loves company, so some folks can jump for joy, knowing that municipal workers, despised as a class for no good reason, will suffer. Many of us in the private sector take no joy in city workers’ woes, but we know we’ve been paying a higher percentage of our health insurance premiums than they have for a long time.
This change is entirely defensible. It will save the city about $2 million, but because of the recession the budget process probably will be painful again.
The city is looking at many details in the budget, including a review of worker’s compensation policies.
Police and firemen are expected to maintain physical fitness. Because of the shifts they work, firemen can work out on duty; stations have exercise rooms. Except for SWAT team members, police don’t have the same chance to work out while on duty.
Colorado Springs has been paying worker compensation claims for injuries sustained while police do physical training while off-duty. That may change, although Risk Management Supervisor Victoria McColm said not many of the 400 claims filed each year stem from off-duty workout sessions.
In 2009, McColm said, four cases involving injuries to policemen accounted for more than $80,000 in paid claims and they had nothing to do with work-out sessions.
“You shouldn’t be able to make your claim if you’re hurt off-duty,” said Officer Pete Tomitsch, president of the Police Protective Association. “We don’t have a problem with that.”
Forcing officers to pay far more for their health insurance premiums is what’s going to hurt, Tomitsch said, adding there’s little doubt “it’s going to happen.”
These kinds of details show city officials are reviewing many aspects of how departments have operated in the past, with an eye to saving money.
That’s a good thing.
City employees feeling some pain? There’s no reason anyone should take pleasure from that.
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