The Half-Million Dollar Mayor Pension

Let's turn our attention for a moment to our elected servants.  Notice I use the word "servant" versus "official".  I'm not a huge fan of calling them Officials because they are public servants.

Now, I want you good taxpayers to think about something.  I'll use the Mayor as an example, who according to the City of Kennesaw website was first elected to public office in 1996.   Seems like he is the longest serving servant at the moment, so let's use him as an example.   Now, I have to verify a few things with the City Manager, but lets assume for the moment the Pension benefit for PART-TIME servants has been in effect since at least 1996 at the current rate of $64 per year of service.   Further, let's assume there is no cap on what he can earn, and the pension is a single-life payout (meaning if he dies in retirement, Mrs. Matthews gets no continuing payment).

Now, according to Note 11, page 48 of the City of Kennesaw financials, elected officials (their word, not mine) are entitled to $64 for each year of service, after reaching normal retirement age.  And do not forget from an earlier post that elected servants (my word) are immediately vested (remember, they are part-timers), while a full-time City employee has to wait a year to participate.

So, let's say that Mark Matthews, our current Mayor, makes it 20 years in his part-time career as a public servant (City Council and Mayor).  The benefit he will accumulate is $64 x 20 = $1,280 per month x 12 =$15,360 per year, assuming no Cost of Living Increases.

Mark reaches age 65 and then lives a nice long life to age 95, God Bless Him on a long life.  The City of Kennesaw will pay him $460,800 in pension benefits.

Can someone in the audience tell me why on God's green earth do we pay part-time elected servants a pension?  

So, let's try and do something about it.  Ask your elected servant...Duckett, Jenkins, Killingsworth and the recently appointed Riedemann if they will refuse their pensions?  I believe Ms. Welsh has already done so....remember that during her next election period.

Those running for office should pledge not to accept a pension.  I can understand being paid for the work they do, it does take a lot of time, so I have no beef about the $12,000 per year we pay them, but to get a pension?  No way.

Next, let's work as a community to get this hideous benefit eliminated, and let's get it frozen starting in 2014.  It can be done.  Private companies "freeze" their pensions all the time and switch their employees to defined contribution plans, commonly known as 401k plans (the City has one of those as well).  The City Council can eliminate the benefit, just takes some gumption to do what is right on behalf of taxpayers of the City.

Let's petition Mark Matthews, to refuse his pension as well and to donate it all to the City Employees pension fund which is currently underfunded.  Why should our hard-working police officers, for example, not have a pension that is 100% funded?  Think about that when you see Mark this weekend at the road race.  Ask him to refuse his pension.

Next, let's see if we can eliminate any pensions paid to former servants such as Leonard Church.  We should assume he will get a pension upon reaching age 65.  

Let's not continue to use our taxpayer money to fund pensions for servants elected to be stewards of your tax dollars.  

Next time you pay your tax bill think about the small slice going to fund the pension for the elected servants that, obviously, have no incentive to eliminate this benefit.  Folks, most people I've spoken to do not even realize this was being accrued to our public servants.

Wake up Kennesaw.