On Nov. 8, the divisive issue of pension reform will be once again before San Jose voters. They’ll be deciding on a ballot measure designed to end a bitter legal battle over a previous pension reform measure. If passed, Measure F would roll back cuts to employee pensions that were approved by city voters four years ago.
Nearly 70 percent of San Jose voters approved the controversial Measure B in 2012 to rein in retirement and disability benefits that city leaders said were forcing cuts to critical services. But police, firefighters and other city employee unions sued to block the measure. Now, both sides are asking voters to support a compromise settlement reached last year between the city and its unions. Mayor Sam Liccardo, who supported the original pension reform package, helped broker the deal.
"The lesson learned here is that we can achieve the savings we need in reforming our pension system and retiree benefits," Liccardo says. "And we can achieve them through agreement."
Liccardo says Measure F would restore disability and pension benefits while still saving $42 million a year -- primarily through closing the retiree health care program to new employees.