The primary question remains, how does Knox County pay for this Defined benefits Plan. The cost is in the neighborhood of $57.1 million or $135.0 million if amortized over 30 years. It could cost anywhere from $1.7 – $6.1 million per year. No decision was reached today on if the start-up money would begin immediately or if it would be stretched over 30 years.
The first vote after an hour and 37 minutes was an amendment offered by Commissioner’s Luethold and Hammond changed the language included in the ballot referendum. The language would indicate that passage of this Charter amendment would have a .08 property tax impact. That is not to say that our taxes will rise .08 cents as the County Commission could identify the .08 in the current budget and pass any cost savings toward the funding of this much needed pension plan for our deputies.
The 10 Commissioners voting for the amendment were; Jordan, M. Harmon, J. Schmid, Hammond, Leuthold, Griess, Cawood, Smith, Pinkston and Clark.
Those Commissioners voting for the referendum as amended were; Jordan, Strickland, Tindell, Norman, I. Harmon, Hammond, Luethold, Griess, Cawood, Lambert, Smith, Moore, Mills, Ballard, Pinkston and Clark.
Those Commissioners voting against the referendum as amended; M. Harmon, Schmid, Guthe.
Mark Harmon and John Schmid voted to include the .08 amendment to the referendum, but then voted against the referendum or the publics right to decide. John Schmid made comments during the meeting that we should not rely on the “uninformed voting public” to make these decisions. This is the reason that we have a representative government. Schmid said.
Commissioner Schmid is this the same uninformed voting public that on August 3rd re-elected you? The same uniformed voting public that were told by you that you would not serve this term, until after the election when you said that you would not step down. Hmm.
Mark Harmon asked an interesting question. He said that he had read where some Commissioners have family and or potential conflicts. Would any Commissioner like to make a statement or recuse themselves? M. Harmon asked. The answer to his question was met with complete silence.
Brian’s Blog is in support of the pension plan change, more information will be forthcoming. Brian Moran of the FOP made an excellent point at today’s meeting. “If it is good enough for the people that teach our children, it should be good enough for the people that protect our children.”
Brian –
My question is: can this pension be created without adding to the relatively high tax burden in Knox County?
If it can, then I don’t see a problem with it. If it means a tax rate hike, I will be the first to sign recall petitions on the entire lot.
Cheers,
Rob
Brian,
Truth is, this pension can be funded without a “tax hike” it would require Knox County to make a 1% tax cut of their massive $600 million budget. (Breedeson cut state budget by 9% when he entered office)Ragsdale uses the tax increase as a scare tactic, just as he did during the infamous wheel tax deal. He told the public that if it didn’t pass then he would have to increase the property taxes. We know what happened there. The wheel tax passed and if you were like me; my property was reassessed at a 25% increase in value, which made my property tax go up anyways. Back door tactic. Ragsdale boasts saying that he increased Officers pay by 20% in 5 years. He had a 20% raise in one year(last year).Officers are putting in about $33 million of their own existing retirement (401K) into this pension. What ever happened to that $90 million that was set back for the Downtown Justice Center that never was? BOTTOM LINE……Officers do what the normal everyday person doesn’t want to do or is too scared to do, and it is time we reward them. If September 11 were yesterday there would be no question in this matter. It is sad that we have forgotten how important Officers are to our everyday lives and safety. I will support this pension, no matter what it takes.
Thanks,
Dean
I agree with Dean and we as a community must do whatever it takes to make it right. Thanks, Dean