Category Archives: Pensions

Sweet home Alameda

Posted on November 6, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

The Merry‑Go‑Round always has been unabashedly – and unashamedly – Alameda‑centric. Whenever we read a story comparing California cities by various metrics, our first instinct is to see whether the City of Alameda is mentioned. And if it isn’t, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Pensions | Tagged AUSD, Common Core, Fiscal distress, Smarter Balanced, Susan Davis | 9 Comments

The new new thing in pensions

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Robert Sullwold

Ever since we can remember (in our case, that’s 2012), the City has been struggling to find ways to ensure that it will be able to pay its retired employees the pensions it promised them. The problem is simple: As … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Pensions | Tagged Eric Levitt, John Knox White, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Normal cost, Pension Obligation Bonds, UAL, Unfunded accrued liabilities | 5 Comments

Stimulus for Alameda

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Robert Sullwold

Imagine, if you will, the following scene: In-person Council meetings now are allowed. The five elected officials, and staff, are sitting, masked and six feet apart, on the dais. The doors to Council chambers burst open, and in comes Vice … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Development, Firefighters, Housing, Pensions | Tagged Affordable housing, Campaign finance, Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, COVID-19, Homelessness, Infrastructure, Kamala Harris, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, OPEB, Pension/OPEB trust, Stimulus, Transportation Choices Plan, Trish Spencer | 11 Comments

The $253.2 million gorilla

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Robert Sullwold

Whom can Alamedans count on now to do battle with the gorilla in the basement of City Hall? That’s what those of us who fear the predations of the gorilla – more formally known as the City’s accrued liability for … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Pensions | Tagged CalPERS, Elena Adair, Eric Levitt, Jeff DelBono, Jill Keimach, Jim Oddie, John Knox White, Liz Warmerdam, Malia Vella, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, OPEB, Pension/OPEB trust, Tony Daysog | 9 Comments

Not enough to go around

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Robert Sullwold

So do you want the good news or the bad news first? That’s what we thought. The good news is that, thanks primarily to the sale of three apartment buildings, the General Fund will receive about $4.7 million more in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged Budget, CalPERS, Dennis Popalardo, Frank Matarrese, General Fund, Jeff DelBono, Jim Oddie, John Russo, Kevin Kennedy, Liz Warmerdam, Malia Vella, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Nancy Bronstein, Susan Mayer, Trish Spencer | 15 Comments

The latest financial update

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Robert Sullwold

Those Alamedans who weren’t able to stay up after 2 a.m. to catch the end of the live feed, or who later quit watching the video after seven hours, missed what may have been the most significant – and troubling … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Pensions | Tagged CalPERS, Doug Long, Elena Adair, Frank Matarrese, General Fund, IAFF Local 689, Jim Oddie, Malia Vella, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, NHA Advisors, Trish Spencer, Unfunded liability | 2 Comments

Spend away!

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Robert Sullwold

Three weeks ago, the Merry-Go-Round reported on City Finance Director Elena Adair’s forecast that, if all of the additional spending proposed for the next two fiscal years were to take place, the “available balance” in the General Fund would drop … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged CalPERS, Carolyn Hogg, Elena Adair, Jill Keimach, Jim Oddie, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Liam Garland, Malia Vella, OPEB, Trish Spencer | 3 Comments

There goes the “surplus”!

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Robert Sullwold

Wanna see how to make $32 million disappear in just five years? Then you ought to show up Wednesday at Council Chambers for the budget workshop, and City Finance Director Elena Adair will show you how it’s done. Or maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged CalPERS, Disaster preparedness division, Doug Long, Elena Adair, Fire Prevention Bureau, Fred Marsh, General Fund, Jim Oddie, Malia Vella, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Paul Rolleri | 2 Comments

Lock it up

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Robert Sullwold

If we recall correctly, it was Al Gore who first introduced the concept of a “lock box” into the political lexicon. The idea was to put certain governmental funds beyond the reach of Congress so that the money could be … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Pensions | Tagged Elena Adair, Fiscal Sustainability Committee, Frank Matarrese, OPEB, Other postemployment benefits, Pension/OPEB Task Force, Tony Daysog | 1 Comment

United they stand

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Robert Sullwold

Some time very soon – we predict – a flyer will arrive on Alamedans’ doorsteps or in their mailboxes endorsing candidates for Council, Auditor, Treasurer, and School Board. It will be printed on glossy paper. It will be well-designed and … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged Alamedans United, Ann Marie Gallant, Ann McKereghan, Ben Kim, Benjamin Villegas, Bob Haun, Gray Harris, IAFF Local 689, Jeff Bratzler, Jeff DelBono, Jim Oddie, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Lena Tam, Maria Vella, Marie Gilmore, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Matt Hettich, Mike Henneberry, Mike McMahon, Niel Tam, UCFW Local 5 | 31 Comments

	Publius on Council’s slush fund
	Karen on Council’s slush fund
	Publius on Council’s slush fund
	Publius on Council’s slush fund
	Eric Strimling on Council’s slush fund