SQUEEZED: RATEPAYERS ASK HELIX TO CUT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, FORM TAXPAYER WATCHDOG GROUP FOR EAST COUNTY

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February 18, 2011 (La Mesa) –Two La Mesans announced this week that they are forming a watchdog group to monitor spending by public agencies in East County. David Smyle, president of Benchmark Commercial Mortgage Bankers, and retired teacher Russell Buckley cite scandal at the City of Bell as an example of why city, county, water and other agencies need scrutiny of how tax dollars are used.

 

Smyle and Buckley, along with fellow La Mesa resident David Stanley, a retired artist, presented testimony at this week’s Helix Water District meeting urging the Board to cut employee benefits.

 

According to a retiree benefits survey, Helix is the only agency surveyed whose employees pay zero percent into their pension fund. The District also pays 100% of medical not only for employees, but also dependents. In addition, the district has generous benefits for sick time and perks that include an employee appreciation party, dinner dance, annual picnic and holiday party for employee children.
 

“Those who work in the private sector don’t receive nearly the pension that you so generously provide to HWD employees, using money that you first take from the ratepayers,” Buckley told the board. He called for an end to “the entitlement mentality” in the public sector.
 

Smyle proposed changing the pension calculations to allow employees to accrue paid time off for only two years at a time under a “use it or lose it” plan. He also asked that sick time be cut from 96 to 40 hours a year. He also called for employees to pay at least 25% of their own healthcare coverage and wants the district to stop funding 100% of dependent’s coverage.
 

Stanley urged the board, “Please consider what we are saying, because we don’t want to feel like we are just throwing pebbles against a granite wall.”
 

General Manager Mark Weston noted that despite recent rate hikes, Helix water rates are lower than surrounding districts and said the Board is “doing something right” in various cost cuts that have been implemented recently. He noted that benefits were based on what was competitive in the public sector at the time those benefits were put in place. He praised Helix employees and suggested good benefits help attract high quality workers.
 

However he noted that economic times have changed. While not at liberty to discuss details of ongoing labor negotiations, Weston told those testifying, “Your comments don’t fall on deaf ears.”
 

The Board proceeded to vote no on an East County Chamber of Commerce request for $1,000 for a centennial project, concluding that expenses should be restricted only to water-related matters in today’s challenging economic times.
 

Smyle, who is also a co-founder of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, said he and Buckley are in the formative stages of creating an East County taxpayers organization that hopes to “educate the public about government run wild” and strive for change.
 

“There is strength in numbers. Just ask Egypt. We can make a difference,” he said.
 

Those interested in learning more about the taxpayer group may contact eastcountytaxhawks@gmail.com.
 


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