Tag Archives: Other postemployment benefits

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 →

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Whom do you trust?

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

All right, dear readers, the Merry-Go-Round has a question for you: Suppose you wanted an authoritative evaluation of the impact on the City’s financial condition of a proposed deal between the City and its public safety unions that establishes a … Continue reading →

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And now for the bottom line

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

So it’s time to get to the bottom line. In the Merry-Go-Round’s examination of the proposed new public safety union contracts Council is being asked to approve on April 29, we’ve looked separately at the economic terms of the MOUs … Continue reading →

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The proposed OPEB trust

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

In our last column, we phrased the issue facing Council as it decides whether to approve new public safety union contracts this way:  Is the “partial solution” proposed by outgoing City Manager John Russo to the “Other Post-Employment Benefits” problem … Continue reading →

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The proposed public safety union contracts

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

We’re sure that, if anyone heeded the exhortation by Vice Mayor Frank Matarrese to begin studying the proposed new public safety union contracts as soon as they were posted Tuesday afternoon, it was readers of the Merry-Go-Round.  After all, who … Continue reading →

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What a way to go!

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

This week, a majority of Council decided to make it possible for departing City Manager John Russo to bolster his reputation – and to burnish his resume – before he leaves for his new job in Riverside.  In so doing, … Continue reading →

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Fixing the OPEB problem — legally

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

This Tuesday, Council will get its first briefing on the “Other Post-Employment Benefits” problem – i.e., how much the City is paying, and how much it will pay in the future, for retiree health benefits. The former Council got a … Continue reading →

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What Council did (and didn’t do) with your money

Posted on December 14, 2014 by Robert Sullwold

Suppose you were running a business and, when you closed the books for the fiscal year on June 30, 2014, you found out that you’d turned a profit of $7.4 million even though you had projected you’d sustain a loss. … Continue reading →

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Why this election matters

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Robert Sullwold

So you don’t think the election this Tuesday for Mayor and Council will matter much to the daily lives of Alamedans? Think again. In fact, within less than a year, Council will be making decisions about waterfront development, Alameda Point, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alameda Point, Budget, City Hall, Development, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Questions the candidates won’t want to answer (Part I)

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Robert Sullwold

Traditionally, the election season begins on Labor Day, and already lawn signs – at least for the well-financed candidates on the firefighters’ union slate – are sprouting up around town. Candidate forums won’t be far behind.  The Alameda Citizens Task … Continue reading →

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