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| Sheriff plans to restore cash benefit to 3,500 |
| By tampabay.com - Bill Varian |
| Published: 06/15/2011 |
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TAMPA — Hillsborough County's top law enforcement official says he refuses to let his employees take the hit for a state mandate that they contribute toward their pension costs. Sheriff David Gee confirmed Tuesday that he is restoring a cash benefit his 3,500 employees used to receive to help defray insurance costs in an amount that will roughly equal the 3 percent pension payment. The result is that an effort to cut the state tax burden will be partly borne by local taxpayers instead. The cost: about $5.2 million annually. Gee said after three years of frozen wages, he could not swallow asking patrol and jail deputies and their civilian support staff to absorb what is effectively a pay cut. He said that is especially important since he has been leaving hundreds of positions vacant, requiring everyone to work harder. "I feel like I have a contract with my employees," said Gee, who weathered then busted a brief unionization of his workforce a few years ago. "I think they've done their part and I think it's time to stick up for them for what's reasonable." He said the payments are made possible through savings from keeping positions vacant as well as a lower-than-anticipated required annual payment to the state pension fund. Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court Pat Frank says that she, too, is trying to mitigate the pension payment with one-time bonuses for her staff. A spokesman for Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober said his boss is considering a similar move. "We realize the hardship of the times we're all in," said Mark Cox, Ober's chief of investigations. "But we're also concerned about losing our valued employees." The maneuvering is sure to draw the ire of some taxpayers who have demanded tax relief. It also is certain to spark resentment from other government employees who have weathered three years of wage freezes, unpaid furlough days and layoffs — with those remaining being told to do more for less. Read More. |
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